Refer China: Stepmother Sentenced to Death in Abuse Case Led to 12yo's Death

Father Jailed

*Notice: This article is first published on AnyShenzhen. For news, tips, and events in Shenzhen, Guangdong, and The Greater Bay Area, feel free to follow us there!

Stepmother Sentenced to Death in Abuse Case That Led to 12yo Girl's Death; Father Jailed

FUZHOU, CHINA — A high-profile child abuse case has reached a final verdict in Fujian Province, as the Fujian High People's Court upheld the death sentence for Xu Jinhua (the stepmother) and a prison sentence for her husband Liu Jiang, who were convicted in the abuse and death of Liu's 12-year-old daughter.

Check our latest video on China Visa and foreign-related knowledge!

Follow our channel for updates 👇

The court confirmed that the two were guilty of intentional homicide and intentional assault, with clear facts and sufficient evidence. Xu was sentenced to death with lifelong deprivation of political rights, while Liu received five years and six months in prison.

Prolonged Abuse and Tragic Death

The victim, known publicly as Qiqi, died on December 22, 2023, after being confined to a bathroom for 17 days and repeatedly abused. A forensic report by the Putian City Public Security Bureau confirmed that Qiqi suffered from acute circulatory failure caused by trauma, infection, malnutrition, hunger, and cold.

In a heart-wrenching interview, Qiqi's biological mother revealed harrowing details of the abuse her daughter endured. According to her, they forced Qiqi to eat human waste, sewed her mouth with eight stitches, stabbed her toes 31 times—piercing five completely—and administered massive quantities of laxatives.

Xu and Liu were arrested shortly after the incident. Prosecutors revealed that since 2020, Xu had regularly beaten and humiliated not only Qiqi but also three other minors under her care—two girls and one boy—whom she had reportedly purchased or adopted through illicit means with previous partners.

Forensic examinations showed minor injuries on the other children, but Qiqi bore extensive old injuries on multiple parts of her body, including her forehead, nose, and chest.

Father's Complicity and Denial

Although Liu was Qiqi's biological father and legal guardian, prosecutors said he failed to protect her and instead participated in the abuse. He allegedly helped Xu purchase around 1,600 laxative pills online, which were administered to the child under the guise of "weight loss medication."

During the 17-day period Qiqi was locked in the bathroom, Xu regularly sent photos of her deteriorating condition to Liu via messaging apps. Liu reportedly expressed support and took no steps to intervene.

Despite overwhelming evidence, including digital records and witness statements, Liu denied any intent to harm and insisted he was only guilty of "child mistreatment," not intentional injury. In court, he showed no remorse, instead weeping in a plea for leniency—for Xu.

Attempts to Conceal the Crime

On the day of Qiqi's death, other children in the household warned Xu that the girl was in critical condition. Xu ignored the warnings. Later that day, when Qiqi began convulsing, Xu untied her and attempted to cover up the incident by changing her clothes, cleaning the bathroom, and deleting home surveillance footage.

Evidence presented in court included search history from Xu's phone on methods of child abuse, as well as surveillance footage from the scene.

Final Verdict

Xu maintained she was only guilty of negligent homicide and mistreatment. Liu claimed he did not personally harm Qiqi. However, the court rejected their appeals, citing their extreme cruelty and lack of remorse. The High People's Court upheld the original verdicts issued in April.

The victim's legal representative, Che Yu, expressed disappointment over Liu's lack of accountability and apparent defense of Xu.

This case has also drawn renewed attention to a growing group in China known as the "Purple Ribbon Mothers" — women who lose all contact with their children due to paternal concealment or family manipulation after a relationship breaks down. In Qiqi's case, after her parents' separation, custody was taken by the father when she was just three years old. From that moment, her mother had no access to her daughter and was unaware of her whereabouts or well-being — until the tragic news came from the court: her daughter had been tortured and killed by her father and stepmother, at only 12 years old.

Source: 新闻坊