IRVINE – A 54-year-old dentist who was run over by a car and then stabbed to death over the weekend was identified Monday as Xuan Liu.

On Saturday about 1:20 p.m. Liu was walking with a woman in a small parking lot at 4980 Barranca Parkway, between Lake Road and East Yale Loop. He was seen by Hongli Sun, 38, who was driving a Mercedes SUV which police say he then drove into Liu.

When he attempted to stand after being struck, Sun used a knife to stab him and the woman who attempted to intervene, officials said.

Liu died in the parking lot at 1:32 p.m., according to coroner’s office officials.

Sun told police he suspected Liu was having an affair with his wife.

Court records show that Sun filed for divorce with Huaying Chen on Sept. 22, citing irreconcilable differences. He asked the court for custody of their 7-year-old son.

Chen responded on Oct. 6, filing paperwork indicating she was not contesting the divorce.

A judge ordered the marriage to officially end on March 27, but that day the couple filed a request to vacate the earlier ruling, indicating they had reconciled and they wanted to be remarried.

According to court records, they said that for a host of personal, cultural and religious reasons they wanted no record of having divorced and a judge approved the reconciliation on April 24.

Authorities did not initially identify the woman who was with Liu Saturday and who was taken to a hospital where she is expected to survive.

Sun, an engineer, was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is being held in Orange County jail and is expected to make a court appearance on Tuesday, according to jail records.

Anyone with information is asked to call Irvine Police Department Detective Karie Davies at 949-724-7131.

Staff writer Jenna Chandler contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or aduranty@ocregister.com