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09/16/07
No Justice for Family of Hit-and-Run Victim
By Lee Hanlon
After serving only four months of an eleven month sentence Xiao Zhang walks back into the community as a free man, thanks to both the inappropriate sentence and the BC Parole Board.
At trial, on November 22, 2006, Zhang pled guilty to hit and run causing the death of Dr. David Higgins, and dangerous driving. The first charge warrants a life term, yet the courts only sentenced him to eleven months. Zhang was never charged of fleeing the scene of the accident.
After court, Zhang fled to Toronto, rented a car and an apartment before being re-captured. This action too was not factored in at trial. Makes one wonder what the judge was thinking.
At the parole hearing, board member Gus Richardson stated to Zhang, “You seem to have a profile of running away.” Yet, the Parole Board still granted Zhang parole. This is not the first time the Parole Board granted parole to “at high risk” offenders. One former Parole Board members resigned because the majority members granted parole to a known dangerous offender, who murdered a 70 year old man several months after being granted parole during a home invasion.
Zhang gets a free “get out of jail” card and Higgins’ daughter, who witnessed the hit and run that killed her father, has no father. Makes one wonder where justice disappeared to.
Zhang, according to the authorities is very immature and very manipulative.
Just what were the courts thinking when they sentenced Zhang the inappropriate term of eleven months, especially when he only needed to serve a minimum of four months before becoming eligible for parole? Zhang was convicted of a charge that warranted a life term. And just what was the Parole Board thinking when they determined Zhang does not pose an undue threat to the public? He caused the death of an innocent person and fled the scene and later on fled the province!
Along with the eleven month sentence Zhang was also given a five year driving prohibition. Meanwhile Dr. Higgins’ life is cut short.
For Dr. Higgins’ family it is a life sentence of emptiness. No more birthdays. No more Easters. No more Thanksgiving. No more Christmas. No more meaningful conversations. And an empty chair at the head of the table.
Patients will now enter and leave the Doctor’s office with a big whole in their heart.
If there ever is a time that Canadians need to take a stand against a corrupt justice system, that time is now. It is high time the people of Canada stand up for justice and demand reforms that make both courts and parole boards accountable for their actions.
Margret Higgins Cheng, a Washington State lawyer, and sister to Dr. Higgins, has called Zhang “pampered” and is utterly shocked at the Canadian Justice system, calling Zhang’s punishment “incomprehensibly light.”
Cheng strongly believes Zhang should serve the full eleven months. I disagree. Zhang should serve a life sentence and be classified as a dangerous offender so that he can never see the light of day.