HONG KONG: A 34-year-old Hong Kong businessman has been convicted of dangerous driving causing death in the death of a 22-year-old American student in Hong Kong. Police say Daniel Sheung Kun-hoo had a blood-alcohol reading three times over the legal limit when he got in his Japanese super car which mowed down the victim last year.

Sheung pleaded not guilt to the charge and guilty to two other charges of "using a defective vehicle", for having both side door glasses and rear windshield tinted, which decreases light transmission and "driving a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration in breath exceeding the prescribed limit".

A bespecled Sheung clad in a dark suit stood downcast in the dock as his family sobbed in the public gallery while District Court Judge Stephen Geisner read out the verdict.

Sentencing was adjourned to February 18. Sheung faces a maximum fine of HK$50,000, five years in prison and disqualification from driving for not less than two years.

At the time of the accident, Sheung had three times higher than the legal limit of 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath when he drove his Nissan GT-R Skyline into the victim shortly after 3:30 am, November 7, 2008 near the Happy Valley tram stop.

Kurt Leswing was in the city as part of his Semester at Sea program, a 15-week ship-borne summer school program. Leswing died before arrival at Ruttonjee Hospital.

A University of Wisconsin student originally from Milwaukee, he is survived by his parents and twin brother.

Witnesses at Sheung's trial testified Sheung sped out of Sports Road onto Wong Nai Chung Road traveling at around 80 to 90 kph before ramming into Leswing who also was described as visibly intoxicated and wandering across the right and middle lanes of Wong Nai Chung Road trying to flag a taxi. The court heard although Leswing had been walking on the road and against traffic, seven cars were able to safely maneuver around the American.

Following the accident, witnesses said Sheung apologized three times to onlookers and said he felt guilty when passers-by suggested a report to the police be made.

An off-duty cabbie who witnessed the accident said, "(Sheung) said a report should not be made just yet," adding Sheung had pulled on Leswing's right arm after exiting his vehicle and running over to the injured pedestrian.

According to reports, Sheung had also asked an unidentified female passenger to leave the accident scene after he brought his vehicle to a stop.

Sheung's car continued traveling for 300 meters after hitting Leswing according to reports, which also said Sheung himself had summoned his wife before calling police. Reports also said he had paid HK$745,000 for the high-performance car in 2007.

There were 106 traffic fatalities in the first 10 months of last year, down from 114 during the same period the year before.

(HK Edition 02/02/2010 page1)