A drunk driver sentenced to death for killing four people and injuring another is facing a second trial in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The Sichuan Provincial Higher People's Court is hearing the trial of Sun Weiming, 30, who has appealed after being sentenced to death in July by the Intermediate People's Court of Chengdu City, the province's capital.

Unlicensed Sun was drunk and speeding in Chengdu in December when he struck four other cars, killing four people and injuring another.

Sun apologized to the victims' families who were attending Friday's hearing. "I know limited compensation cannot make up for the deaths," he said. "I hope I can have a chance to expiate my actions."

The procuratorate said there was clear evidence Sun endangered public safety, but brought up the possibility of not sentencing Sun to immediate execution.

The higher court said it would consider the case and hand down a verdict at a later date, without giving details.

Chinese police launched a two-month nationwide crackdown against drink driving in August following a series of fatal accidents involving pedestrians and drunk drivers. More than 28,000 drivers had been caught during the campaign and had received penalties for drink-driving by the end of August, the Ministry of Public Security said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2009)