Southern Weekend, 2009-07-30
In an effort to appease public anger and confusion over the sentencing of defendant Hu Bin, the presiding judge in the case, Pan Bo, held a press conference at the Xihu District (Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province) Court. Pan attempted to dispel widespread internet speculation that Hu—who allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian in a crosswalk while driving over twice the speed limit—had not actually stood trial but had instead hired a look-alike substitute to falsely act as defendant in the case. Pan also explained why the court could only find Hu guilty of creating a traffic accident and not endangering public safety, which carries much higher maximum penalties. Hu received “only” a three year sentence of fixed imprisonment because the court, following prosecutors, could not establish the “especially egregious circumstances” element necessary for increased punishment. In response to the public outrage surrounding the case, Pan noted that he too detested the prevalence of dangerous speeding on Hangzhou's city streets, but “while adjudicating the case, I did my best not to read related reports in the media, and also did my best not to discuss this case with relatives and friends, out of fear it would influence the verdict.”
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