Man in Hebei Sentenced to Death for Killing His Wife

A man in north China's Hebei Province was sentenced to death for killing his wife, a local court announced today, in a case that has fueled nationwide outrage over domestic violence.

The defendant, 26-year-old Jin Hao, was convicted of homicide and received the death penalty along with lifelong deprivation of political rights, according to the Cangzhou Intermediate People's Court. His mother, 48-year-old Zhang Jie, was also found guilty and sentenced to two years and two months in prison for helping destroy evidence.

The crime took place on August 22, when police in Mengcun County, Hebei Province, received a report that a young woman had died in a residential compound. Authorities later confirmed that the 25-year-old victim, surnamed Liu, died from severe cranial injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

Before the trial, Liu's relatives told China Newsweek that they believed Jin's parents were present at the scene on the night of the killing and helped cover up the crime.

Her younger brother told Jiupai News that Liu had long suffered physical abuse, often hiding bruises under long sleeves even in summer and offering unconvincing explanations to concerned family members. He said she had considered divorce but feared losing custody of her 3-year-old child.

Liu's uncle recounted that the couple met in high school and were in a long-term relationship before marrying. He alleged that in the months leading up to the murder, Jin had been pressuring her to divorce because he had an affair with another woman.