Driver who killed China protester released early

BEIJING: A truck driver jailed for crushing a Chinese village chief to death in a case that inspired a film by dissident artist Ai Weiwei has been released early, media said Tuesday.

The death of Qian Yunhui, 53, raised suspicions that he had been murdered for campaigning over land seizures in the eastern province of Zhejiang, and the Global Times said that local residents had "suspected foul play".

Fei Liangyu was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in February 2011.

But his sentence was reduced because of "good behaviour" and he was released on June 24, said the Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily.

It did not give further details or explain the delay in the news coming to light.