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January 27, 2011

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Driver in 'Li Gang' case admits killing woman in car accident

A MAN who gained instant notoriety when he shouted: "Go ahead, sue me. My father is Li Gang!" after knocking down a woman with his car, has admitted causing her death.

Li Qiming, 23, appeared at Wangdu County People's Court yesterday on charges arising from the fatal road accident on October 16 last year at Hebei University in the northern city of Baoding.

Li had been drinking when his car hit two women students who were roller-skating, the court heard. Li continued driving to drop off his friend at the university until he was stopped by guards and angry students, prosecutors said.

One of the women, Chen Xiaofeng, 20, died in hospital while the other, Zhang Jingjing, 20, suffered a broken leg. Zhang has been discharged from hospital.

After the accident, Li is said to have shouted: "Go ahead, sue me. My father is Li Gang!"

Li Gang was deputy chief of the Beishi district police bureau of Baoding City at the time of the accident.

A deputy chief of the procuratorate, Xu Yongsheng, said Li should serve from three to seven years in prison.

Defense lawyer Zhang Jinlong said Li had been apologetic and had compensated the victims' families. Zhang told the court: "I would hope for a sentence of three years in jail with a reprieve."

Li paid 460,000 yuan (US$69,880) to Chen's family and 92,000 yuan to Zhang's.

Chen's brother Chen Lin attended the court hearing together with a group of Hebei University students.

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

The court hearing lasted less than two hours. Sentence is to be passed down at a later date.

The expression "My father is Li Gang" became a bitter joke in China, with various versions of the sentence being used in a joking manner.

The "Li Gang incident" even has its own English-language Wikipedia entry.

Li Qiming is known in China as a guan'erdai, or offspring of an official, a term many Chinese associate with arrogant, bullying behavior and a misguided sense of privilege.

Police records show that Li did mention who his father was, but it was only after he was taken to the guardhouse at the university.

In a China Central Television interview broadcast on October 22 last year, Li Gang said: "I am really sorry for what my son has done. He caused a lot of pain for the victims' families. I will not play favorites for my son's benefit at the court hearings."

During the interview Li choked with emotion and bowed to ask for forgiveness.

The TV footage also showed a tearful Li Qiming, who said he was "very sorry."

Li Gang did not attend yesterday's court hearing.





 

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