A senior official in Shanxi province who allegedly killed his provincial supervisor in an October expressway accident stood trial in a local court on Saturday.

Li Yi, vice-chairman of the Xinzhou city committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was charged with killing Jin Yinhuan, chairwoman of the provincial committee of CPPCC, in a traffic accident on Oct 11.

The court said a verdict will be handed down later after an eight-hour trial on Saturday.

On Oct 11, Jin was returning to the provincial capital Taiyuan in a Toyota SUV after an inspection tour, escorted by a police car and another SUV, the China News Service reported earlier.

Driving a Toyota sedan, Li suddenly cut across lanes, colliding with Jin's vehicle, which was then stuck by the other SUV. Jin and her secretary died after two days in the hospital, while her driver was slightly injured.

Prosecutors said Li should not have been driving according to law, because he had only one finger on his left hand.

They also claimed Li had called his driver, Li Zhifu, to the scene and told him to lie to authorities by saying he - not Li Yi - was driving.

Li Zhifu confessed when interrogated by traffic police.

Li Yi acknowledged most of the facts stated in the charges, People's Daily's website reported yesterday.

Chinese criminal law says the maximum penalty for those who cause the deaths of others by violating traffic laws is less than three years in prison.

The victims' families are also seeking compensation, the Taiyuan Evening News reported.

Li's driver was charged with covering up the crime and faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

(China Daily December 29, 2008)