Society

Family sues over son's suicide

By Zhang Jiawei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-06-16 15:19

Liao's family has launched a second attempt to claim compensation following the death of their son after a court rejected their first claim last year, Beijing News reported Thursday.

Liao Zhenping, 18, took his own life by drinking the insecticide DDVP in October 2009. His body was found near a railway intersection in Fengtai district in Beijing.

Parents of Liao Zhenping, who took his own life by drinking the insecticide DDVP in October 2009, attend a court hearing with the son's photo in Beijing, June 15, 2011. [Photo/Beijing News]

Police said Liao, who worked as a cook at a small dumpling restaurant, committed suicide because he could not pay the 30,000-yuan medical bill of a 76-year-old woman who he knocked down while riding an electric bike to work on Sept 13, 2009.

Liao's family blamed the huge pressure he was put under by the family of the woman he knocked down.

Liao's family also said the old lady's son, accompanied by four other people, forcibly took Liao to his friends' place to borrow money.

In his suicide letters Liao said he intended to pay the medical bill with his own life because he didn't have the money.

The woman's family said they had never intimidated Liao, and the woman's daughter-in-law had to quit her job to take care of her after the accident.

Liao's family appeared in court with their deceased son's photo Wednesday, claiming compensation of 770,000 yuan ($120,000) from the woman's family.

No court ruling was made Wednesday.