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Victims' families submit forgiving letter for drunken driver

By Wang Jingqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-04 10:18

The family members of four victims killed by drunken driver Sun Weiming have told a high court that they forgive the killer, a day before he appeals his death sentence today.

Zhang Zhiyu, whose parents were killed; Jin Yuhang, whose parents were also killed; and Han Changjin, who was severely injured, submitted the letter to the Jinjiang People's Court of Chengdu on Wednesday after agreeing to a 1 million yuan ($146,334) compensation deal.

In the letter, they wrote that Sun's family had apologized and have already paid 600,000 yuan with 400,000 yuan to be deposited by Sept 18.

"We think the court should take this into consideration during sentencing in the appeal," the letter read.

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The judge is under no obligation to consider the letter.

Zhang said that Sun Xiaomei, Sun's sister, asked the three families to write that "we hope the court will give him a lenient sentence." He said they refused her request.

"It's impossible. We still hate Sun Weiming, and we considered this a long time before agreeing to the compensation deal," Zhang said.

It was agreed that the letter would be sent after the families received 1 million yuan for their loss.

Sun's family is selling the family home to raise money for the payment, and the outstanding 400,000 yuan will be paid to the family as soon as the sale is complete.

Zhang and Jin has so far received 216,000 yuan each, and Dai was paid 168,000 yuan.

Chen Hong, Sun Weiming's lawyer, said Sun was very nervous Thursday, and had not mentioned anything about his appeal today.

Sun was sentenced to death for "endangering public security" as he killed four people and injured five after plowing into four sedans on Dec 14.