The truck driver involved in the death of a former village head in east China's Zhejiang Province was sentenced to three years and six months in prison Tuesday.

The verdict on Fei Liangyu was handed down Tuesday noon by the People's Court of Yueqing City in the first-instance trial.

Debate was ignited throughout the country after Qian Yunhui, 53, a Village head in Puqi Town of Yueqing, was crushed to death by a heavy truck on Dec. 25, 2010.

Over the past six years, Qian led local villagers in protests against the expropriation of their farmland for industrial development.

According to Zhejiang authorities, Qian's head was severed by an overloaded truck driven by the unlicensed driver, Fei Liangyu, and his death was not a result of malicious intrigue.

According to earlier media reports, police in Wenzhou, a city administers Yueqing, said that on Jan. 29 a watch with a micro recorder worn by Qian had been found and supported the previous conclusion that his death was an accident.

Earlier media reports also said Qian's family members had accepted a compensation deal of 1.05 million yuan (159,574 U.S. dollars) from the driver and his employer.

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