KEY POINTS:
A Canadian criminal who killed a Tauranga doctor in a hit-and-run incident in Vancouver last year has been recaptured after fleeing to Toronto to evade sentencing.
Xiao "Sean" Zhang, 21, drove into David Higgins, 52, at a pedestrian crossing on June 27.
Dr Higgins, voted Tauranga's best GP in 2004, had been on sabbatical and was visiting his parents in Vancouver with his daughters Sian and Kari.
He died of massive head injuries, just days before he was due to attend an 80th birthday celebration for one of his parents.
Zhang sped from the scene after hitting Dr Higgins, and was arrested after a dramatic 10-minute chase through residential areas.
A driver who witnessed the incident tailed Zhang and boxed the car with his own.
An off-duty police officer spotted the fleeing vehicle and managed to catch Zhang, pinning him on the ground until back-up arrived.
A Canadian newspaper said at the time that Zhang was a well-known criminal and Vancouver police called his actions "irresponsible, cowardly and heartless".
Zhang pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop, but then failed to appear for sentencing in the Vancouver Provincial Court last week.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest and he was nabbed after Toronto police staked out several suburban homes based on information supplied by Vancouver police.
"We left no stone unturned," Vancouver police traffic Inspector Andy Hobbs was quoted as saying in a Canada.com report.
Zhang was said to be planning to flee to China when he was arrested.
Dr Higgins had worked in Tauranga for 18 years and was also known as a specialist in natural medicines.
His partner of several years, Sandi Bell, said at the time that she had lost "a rare commodity who had a wonderful nature".
Dr Jeff Brownless, a friend and colleague, called Dr Higgins a "compassionate, all-round nice guy".
Dr Higgins' sister Margaret Higgins-Chang, who lives in Washington state, has called for stiffer penalties in Canada for dangerous drivers, saying her brother was an organ donor who, in his death, had saved four Canadian lives.
Zhang's record includes a hit-and-run in 2005. He was forbidden from driving after his arrest for killing Dr Higgins.
The Toronto Star said Zhang would be returned to Vancouver for sentencing.
