SHANGHAI - A Shanghai motorist was given a life sentence for killing a traffic police officer, a court ruled on Tuesday.

The Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Sun Haojie to life imprisonment and deprived him of political rights.

The 32-year-old Internet firm owner was driving a BMW SUV when he was stopped by officer Mao Shengquan, 32, for crossing the stop line at a busy junction in Shanghai's downtown district at 5:25 pm on March 11.

Sun did not reverse, but instead positioned himself for a U-turn. When the light turned green, Sun stepped hard on the car's accelerator, hitting Mao. The officer died of brain injuries in hospital that night.

Sun later turned himself to police.

At the trial opened on August 19, he denied his charge of intentional injury. However, the court held the impudent driving should be judged as intentional injury after over four months of proceedings.