After a drunken passenger got violent on board a bus in Guangzhou on the evening of June 24, the driver retaliated by stabbing the man who later died in hospital from his injuries. The driver could face manslaughter charges but a number of eyewitnesses have pledged to testify in his defence, Guangdong Satellite Television reports.

After bus 541 stopped at Yuancun Siheng Junction Station at around 9 p.m., a drunken, blood-soaked man was seen coming off. He was followed by the driver who was holding a 10 cm knife. The driver exclaimed that the man had got on at Baiyun Road and was scolding and slapping him repeatedly. “I had to retaliate,” the driver, Mr. Zheng, said.

While the injured man, Mr Yang, used what strength he had to call his brother. The driver sat by the side of the road and said “I’ve killed him.” It indeed emerged that Yang died in hospital from his injuries. He did not try to run away and is currently in police custody.

One eyewitness backed up Mr Zheng’s claim that the passenger started it. Another said the passengers all agreed that Yang had gone too far and they would come out in the driver’s defence.

Guangzhou’s JC Bus Company has apologised and called the incident “unfortunate.” A representative of the company said Zheng, 41, from Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province was honest, popular and easy-going.

The investigation is ongoing. But would a Chengguan who had done the same thing get such sympathy?