Society

Policeman's son in court for fatal car accident

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-26 12:36

WANGDU, Hebei - A man who invoked his policeman father's name at a crowd of witnesses after hitting a young woman with his car on a North China university campus appeared in court Wednesday.

Li Qiming, 23, appeared at Wangdu County People's Court at 9 am charged in connection with a fatal road accident on the evening of Oct 16 last year in Hebei University, Baoding city, Hebei province.

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Li is alleged to have been drink-driving when he hit two women students, who were roller-skating.

One of the women, Chen Xiaofeng, 20, died later in hospital while the other, Zhang Jingjing, 20, suffered a fractured leg.

Chen's brother Chen Lin attended the court hearing together with a group of Hebei University students, according to reporters at court.

"My family and myself want justice. The prosecution itself demonstrates that," said Chen Lin.

After the accident, Li reportedly shouted that, "Go ahead, sue me. My father is Li Gang!"

Li Gang was the deputy chief of the Beishi district police bureau of Baoding city when the accident happened.

The incident drew nationwide criticism and put the father and son in the spotlight.

Deputy chief of the procuratorate Xu Yongsheng said the driver should be sentenced to three to seven years in prison.

Defense lawyer Zhang Jinlong said Li Qiming had been apologetic and had compensated the victims' families.

Zhang said at court, "I would hope for a sentence of three years in jail with a reprieve."

Li Qiming's family has reached a compensation agreement with the victims' families. Li has paid 460,000 yuan (69,880 U.S. dollars) to Chen's family and 92,000 yuan to Zhang's family.

The court hearing ended at 10:40 a.m. and the sentence will be handed down at a later date.