A GRIEVING widow who has travelled from China for the funeral of her student son told how his hit-and-run death has left her a broken woman facing financial ruin.
Li Baie, 54, sacrificed everything to send her son Shuo Feng to study at Salford University, surviving on a diet of soup and noodles to raise the money for his studies.
She was counting on her only child to find a well-paid career so that he could care for her in her old age after her husband died of a brain tumour 10 years ago.
But her family have been left devastated after a callous hit-and-run driver struck Shuo and left him dying in Regent Road, Ordsall.
The unidentified driver had crossed on to the wrong side of the M602 dual carriageway in a bid to shake off pursuing police.
Li, who lives in the north eastern Chinese city of Dalian, has flown to Manchester to arrange her son's cremation and help police with their investigation. The journey was funded by donations from friends who paid for her air fare and a new set of clothes.
Speaking through an interpreter, she said: "I had a happy family before my husband Pei Hua Feng, an army officer, died from a brain tumour aged 49.
"He told me he was worried about Shuo and I must support him. When my son was at university in China, I would give him about '20 a week to live on and buy books.
"I lived on 500 grammes of noodles a week. I ate a bit of soup and noodles each day. As a single mother I did not have much money. I didn't mind at all because my son was getting a good education.
"Chinese tradition and law give children the responsibility to support their own parents so I was trying hard to support my son so that he would have a bright future and could then pay off the debts I have taken out to help his education. He could also then support me." She wept as she added: "There is no future for me now. There is no one to support me. I will have no one when I am ill and old.
"I phoned my mother a couple of days ago to say I was fine but she doesn't know I am in England. My son's grandmother was very proud of Shuo. She always said he was the hope of the whole family."
Shuo had studied English in London before moving to Salford last August to start a master's degree in information systems.
His mother added: "He was working hard in Salford to try to do well in the future and become a high-profile IT professional. He was a very caring, loving son. He knew I had a back problem so would try to do all the housework. My husband died, but because of Shuo I felt happiness - he was such a loving person."
Shuo died after a black Nissan Pulsar spotted by police travelling well over the speed limit on the M602 left the motorway and struck him as he crossed the road to return to his home in Coronation Street. The vehicle was later found burnt out in Northenden.
Li said: "I am asking the police to try and catch the criminal who did this as soon as possible. I would like to say to that person that they must have a mother themselves, and if they look at their conscience they will realise they have pushed me to despair.
"They have destroyed a happy family and they have destroyed me. God will punish them if they don't come forward. If they have a soul it will not rest."
The hit-and-run happened on Sunday, April 25. Police are still appealing for information in a bid to find out who was driving the Nissan, registered K303 CNE, which had a rear spoiler and tinted windows.
Anyone with information should call police on 0161-872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555111.
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i am really sad to hear that.
i canot find any word to descripe that driver. anyway what all i can do is just hoping the police catch that driver as soon as possible.
i support you Li Baie
My heart goes out to you Li Baie.
To the Driver,
You killed a nice young
lad and ruined the whole family, why you are not coming forward to confess your crime. You are a coward. From this case we learned again, cowards are cruel, But God would never forgive you.
Hope the police can catch the criminal soon. Sympathy goes to Mrs Li Baie, bless you!
At Salford University we are all saddened by the death of Shuo, and have the greatest sympathy for his mother Li.
i'm so sorry to hear of shuo fengs tragic death! it should not have happened, these days you cant step outside incase of nut cases, scallys and speeding cars! its not fair! my heart goes out to you miss li baie. i was in a car going past a few minutes after it happened coming home from relatives. it's so scary to know we could of been hit by these idiots also and i had my two year old daughter in the car! its absolute appauling that these joy riders have no feelings for ppl that are not involved and end up killed. it makes me sick it does. this poor young lad with a lot going for him had died because of a few losers in a car thinking there clever! well hope next time u decide to get or drive in a fast car its you idiots that r punished! would u joyriders like to die???? if not remember innocent ppl that choose not to do that sort of thing dont want to die either. we want to live our life happily and not put ourself in danger thankyou very much! if you idiots that knocked that poor man down read this you better own up and get locked up before you kill someone else! maybe next time it could be your own mum by mistake you knock over or your neice, nephew even child! think on before thinking your a f1 driver!!!!! shup feng has no life because of you d heads who feel like driving fast! like to say more but i know id swear!
As things stand at the moment, you cannot be found guilty of a crime you did not intend to commit. No matter how recklessly you drive, or if you are drunk, if you kill someone by dangerous driving you can get away with a short sentence. You can drop bricks from a motorway bridge and kill a driver, and get away with a short sentence if you can convince a jury that you didn't mean to cause death. We need a new offence of culpable homicide. Any person found guilty of killing another by committing a knowingly reckless act should be punished with a life sentence. Of course the lawyers will say that it is difficult to determine whether an act is knowingly reckless. That's something a jury is perfectly capable of deciding.