A man suspected of attempting to avoid charges stemming from a deadly traffic accident by invoking the name of his well-connected father will go to trial on Wednesday, the China Youth Daily reported on Monday.
Li Qiming, also known as Li Yifan, will face charges of "perpetration of a traffic accident" in Wangdu county of North China's Hebei province, according to the newspaper. The China Youth Daily obtained the information from Chen Lin, the brother of a victim in the crash.
The trial will begin at 9 am on Wednesday at the county's people's court, both Chen Lin and the county's publicity department confirmed.
Previously, legal experts had debated whether Li should go to trial on a charge of "perpetration of a traffic crime", or on a charge of "a dangerous offense against public safety". The latter crime, if proved, carries harsher penalties, including the death sentence, while the lesser charge often results in prison sentences lasting from three to seven years.
On Oct 16, 2010, Li Qiming was speeding in a car on Hebei University's campus, in the province's Baoding city, and ran over Chen Xiaofeng and Zhang Jingjing. Both victims were then students of the university. Chen Xiaofeng later died from wounds she suffered in the crash, while Zhang was lightly injured.
The case set off a massive outcry both online and offline, especially after reports circulated that Li Qiming had tried to threaten security personnel on campus by shouting "My father is Li Gang!" - in reference to a local deputy police chief.
On Oct 24, 2010, Li Qiming was arrested on the charge of perpetration of a traffic accident.
The following month, Li Gang reached a restitution deal with Chen Guangqian, Chen Xiaofeng's father, agreeing to pay the Chen family 460,000 yuan ($67,700).
The family, meanwhile, has signed a letter of forgiveness with Li Gang and will only be allowed to sit in the audience in the approaching trial, said Hu Yihua, a lawyer representing the Chen family.
Questions:
1. Where will the trial take place?
2. When was the accident?
3. How much did Li Gang pay in a restitution deal?
Answers:
1. Wangdu county, Hebei province.
2. Oct 16, 2010.
3. 460,000 yuan.
(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.