Appeal dismissed for Chinese national convicted of causing girlfriend’s death

SINGAPORE – A man who caused the death of his girlfriend after hitting her with a car will start serving his sentence of 10 months and two weeks’ jail after failing in his appeal against the sentence.

High Court judge Tay Yong Kwang threw out Liu Zhongwei’s case after finding no reason to disagree with the lower court’s findings for the sentence.

Liu, 31, was convicted after a trial of five charges, including that of causing the death of his girlfriend Li Minna on July 14, 2013. Both of them are from Jilin, China.

The court heard that Ms Li had gone to a karaoke centre to confront Liu, after he failed to answer her calls.

After they left the place, he jumped into his car, locked the doors and drove off, hitting her along the way. She sustained head injuries, from which she died shortly after.

Lawyer Kertar Singh, who acted for Liu, said his client’s actions should be considered negligence as he claimed to not know he had hit his girlfriend.

“(Ms Li) was emotionally charged, and had chased after the MPV. She became an author of her own misfortune … this cannot be attributed to (Liu),” the lawyer said, in arguing for Liu’s sentence to be reduced to a non-custodial one.

In response, Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhong Zewei said Liu’s account of the events was “selective and self-serving”. Liu’s decision to lock Ms Li out of the car and quickly drive off was “clearly a case of conscious risk-taking”, he added.

Liu was convicted of four charges, including that of committing a rash act that caused death and failing to make a police report within 24 hours of the accident.

Justice Tay ordered Liu to begin serving his sentence on May 12. He has also been disqualified from driving all vehicle classes for eight years. Liu could have faced up to five years’ jail and/or a fine.