BEIJING: A father from southern China has sparked public outrage after signing a letter of understanding to forgive his girlfriend, who killed his 18-month-old son by kicking him in the belly.
The case, which occurred in Guangdong province, received widespread attention after the boy’s mother, the man’s ex-wife, called for a thorough investigation.
The ex-wife, surnamed Xie, stated that she separated from her husband in April last year. They were married for over a decade and had two sons together. She secured custody of their elder son, while her ex-husband, surnamed Li, obtained custody of the toddler.
In November last year, Xie received an unexpected call from her ex-father-in-law telling her of her younger son’s death and requesting permission to bury him at their ancestral home.
Xie quickly rushed to the hospital, where Li was already processing the paperwork for cremating their son.
Upon arrival, the doctor informed Xie that her son had injuries to the back of his head, and his abdomen was “swollen like a balloon.” They recommended an autopsy.
Alarmed, Xie contacted the police. The investigation revealed that the toddler had suffered multiple kicks to his belly on three separate occasions: three days before and one day before his death. He ultimately succumbed to ruptured liver, pancreas, and intestines.
The perpetrator was Li’s girlfriend.
The girlfriend, surnamed Guo, had quit her job as a salesperson in August last year and had been living with Li, taking care of his son full-time.
She reportedly concealed her cohabitation with Li from her family and gradually lost patience with the boy when he misbehaved. Reports indicated she had previously pinched and beaten him on his arms, buttocks, and face.
Li defended his decision to sign the letter of understanding, claiming he believed Guo was caring for the boy and did not intend to harm him.
Xie vehemently opposed the letter and took the case to the media to advocate for her son’s rights.
“If I had not arrived at the hospital in time that day, my child might have already been cremated and the offender would have escaped justice,” Xie added.
Liu Kai, a lawyer at the Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, stated that Li’s letter of understanding holds legal weight because it was given by one of the victim’s parents; however, since the other parent disagrees, it will be less effective.
According to China’s Criminal Law, individuals who cause death through particularly cruel actions can face sentences of no less than 10 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty.
Liu further remarked that since the victim was a minor, the severity of the punishment might be even greater.
Online observers expressed their outrage at the father’s reaction to his son’s death.
“He issued a letter of understanding because he shares responsibility for his son’s death,” one commentator remarked.
“The father’s indifference is more chilling than the abuser’s fist,” another added. - South China Morning Post/ANN
