Today's NZ Herald has Claire Trevett's account of the outrageous blood money trial and appeal of "student" Zhao Ding Yan, who ran over and killed 4 year old Georgia McCarten-Graham while driving unlicensed at double the speed limit. The judge in the original trial had handed down an already incredibly lenient sentence of 2 years imprisonment and a five year driving disqualification. Zhao's family had offered to pay as "compensation" $40,000. Think about that....$40,000 for a child's life and a wrecked family. On appeal, Justice Randerson said the sentencing judge failed to take into account the offer of compensation, and then he cut Zhao's sentence in half and dropped his driving disqualification to three years. Right. Would you trade a child's life for $40,000? Could Zhao have avoided jail completely for $80,000? It's simple payment of blood money; just like in that other judicial paradise, China.

$40,000. About the price of a new car for Mr. Zhao when he gets out of jail.