Court to hear crash pair's sentence appeal

By Angela Xu  |   2008-6-13  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

TWO men who caused a car crash which left one person dead and five injured have appealed their sentences. The Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People's Court will hold an appeal hearing soon.

Gu Penghua and Qian Yong, both 30-year-old local natives, were sentenced to nine years in prison for threatening public security.

On May 4 last year the two were driving home in separate cars on Puxing Road. Qian, driving a Chery, got involved in a dispute with the driver of a Dongfeng car while trying to overtake. Qian called Gu, who was driving a Passat behind, on the phone asking him to block the Dongfeng.

Gu drove past the Dongfeng and braked suddenly. The Dongfeng bumped into the back of the Passat. Gu drove past the Dongfeng again and tried the same thing. The Dongfeng hit the Passat and overturned.

A passenger in the Dongfeng died and the driver and four other passengers were injured.

Gu and Qian argued that they had violated traffic laws but hadn't intended to threaten public security.

But the Fengxian District People's Court decided that the duo, as experienced drivers, intended to harm those inside the passenger car.