Crown Counsel has decided to appeal the acquittal of a Richmond driver who caused a fatal crash - a few days after a petition was launched by the victim’s daughter.
The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS), on behalf of the Crown, announced today that it is appealing the acquittal of Ken Chung, who was charged with causing the death of Dr. Alphonsus Hui by dangerous driving in 2015.
Earlier this week, Dr. Hui’s daughter, Monique Hui, launched a petition to lobby Attorney General David Eby over the acquittal of Chung.
By Thursday at 4:30 p.m., the petition had attracted 53,409 signatures.
In November 2015, Hui, a trusted family doctor with more than 40 years of service, was on his way to his office when his car was T-boned at the intersection of Oak Street and 41st Avenue in Vancouver.
The Audi driven by Chung was travelling at 140 km per hour in a 50 km per hour zone and the speed at impact was 119 km per hour.
Hui’s car was sent flying upon the collision and he died at scene from multiple blunt force traumas.
However, Chung walked away from court after Judge Gregory Rideout concluded that “the momentariness of the accused’s conduct in excessively speeding is insufficient to meet the criminal fault component and he must be acquitted.”
Dr. Hui’s family is outraged by the verdict and demanded justice for him.
On Thursday, the BCPS revealed in a statement that it’s “seeking a ruling…that the acquittal be set aside, a conviction substituted as originally charged or, in the alternative, a new trial ordered.”
The BCPS added that it has reviewed the decision of the court and feels there may have been “errors of law.”
Monique Hui said in her petition that her family were “concerned the government and our courts are not doing enough to keep drivers who speed excessively off our streets.
“The petition demands that Chung’s license be taken away and that the government introduce more stringent policies that will rightfully penalize reckless driving.”
Chung was also caught street racing in a residential zone last year and plead guilty to excessive speeding.
“It is clear to us that (Chung) is still unrepentant for what he has done,” added Monique Hui.
“It’s unbelievable that you can drive at this speed on purpose, take someone’s life and have zero consequences,” wrote Kyle Bryan, one of the many online supporters.
