Car crash murderer gets reprieved death penalty in E China

A man received death penalty for murdering a pedestrian after accidentally injuring him with his car in east China, according to a court in Anhui Province on Sunday.

The Intermediate People's Court in Suzhou City said in a statement that Tao Dongji was given the death sentence with a reprieve of two years for murdering Zhang Rongqiang -- intentionally hitting him with his car, after initially injuring the man by accident in May 2009.

Tao confessed in court that he pretended to offer the victim a ride home after accidentally driving into him only then to push him out of the car, and drive into him again.

The court heard that Zhang, a villager in Wuhe County, on the second occasion was dragged by the car for more than 10 meters.

The court said that the reprieve was given with consideration of Tao's cooperative attitude in confessing his crime.

Source: Xinhua