The accident killed his girlfriend of four years and seriously injured a colleague.

On Wednesday, Chiang Kwok Wai, 32, and now unemployed, was given a nine-month jail term and a ban from driving for 10 years.

He was found guilty of drink-driving and failing to maintain control of his car, resulting in the death of Miss Quek Siew Nee, a 29-year-old human resource professional.

Another charge of causing 30-year-old Tay Huay Kia grievous hurt was considered during sentencing.

The court heard that late on Dec 12, 2007, Chiang, with Miss Quek and Mr Tay as his passengers, drove his car up a kerb and collided into a tree along Bedok North Avenue 4.

The trio had just had drinks at Boat Quay and he was giving Mr Tay a ride home.

The impact so mangled the car that Singapore Civil Defence Force officers had to cut it open to free its occupants.

A blood test showed Chiang to have 121 mg of ethanol per 100 ml of blood, above the legally prescribed limit of 80mg/100 ml.

In mitigation, Chiang's lawyer Subhas Anandan said his client had a clean record before the accident and was a man of good character. He has undergone psychiatric treatment but is still struggling to cope with what had happened.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.