A drug-driving case that killed a New Taipei police officer is back in court, and the driver is now fighting to cut his 18-and-a-half-year sentence.

• Huang Kuo-wei took three drugs, then sped, ran a red light and drove into oncoming traffic, killing officer Huang Wei-chen and injuring two others.
• He had over 70 prior records for driving without a licence; the dead officer left a wife and a four-year-old son.
• His lawyer argues the crash does not count as "causing death" under the dangerous-driving law, since the drive happened before dawn with few people around and he did not race or swerve the whole way.
• Prosecutors want a heavier sentence as a repeat offender, saying the entire drive was dangerous from start to finish.

Outlook: The court called the arguments half-right on both sides and will review dashcam and street-camera footage second by second, with prosecutors expected to file their breakdown within two weeks.