Canadian Woman in Great Wall Death Could Owe Hundreds of Thousands in Civil Lawsuit

A Canadian woman who accidentally knocked over and killed an elderly Chinese woman on the Great Wall won't face criminal charges, but the deceased woman's family has filed a civil lawsuit against her, Chinese media reported.

The accused, identified by Chinese news reports as Julie Fortin, a 37-year-old tourist from Quebec, was running after a friend, the victim’s family told Beijing News, and reportedly squeezed in between the victim and her husband, causing the woman to fall and hit her head. She reportedly kept running down, but eventually ran back up to where the collision took place.

The 73-year-old victim (some reports say 70), surnamed Cui, died from her injuries while waiting about an hour for emergency services to arrive at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.

If the case is proven, Fortin could face a judgment of "hundreds of thousands of yuan," according to a "legal perspective" presented in China Daily. However, it is unlikely such a judgment could be enforced if Fortin returns to Canada.

"China and Canada have not signed a bilateral treaty on judicial assistance on civil and commercial cases. According to Canadian law, only if the judgment is obtained by fraud or by unjust procedure, or based on penal, revenue or other public law of the foreign jurisdiction, will a foreign judgment not be recognized," the article says.

Currently the biggest question is the case is whether Fortin is still in China. The Daily Mail reported that she has already returned to Canada, although Chinese news reports have not confirmed this. "The Canadian Embassy in Beijing is providing consular services to a Canadian citizen in China," CBC News reported Friday, quoting Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs. Fortin can be legally prevented from departing China due to her involvement in the case.

A photo of a woman purported to be Fortin published in Chinese media matches one of a Julie Fortin in Quebec City, Canada, where she is employed by Canada Parks and Recreation Association.

Margaux Schreurs contributed to this report.

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