Father 'forgives' girlfriend who kicked his 18-month-old toddler to death, sparks outrage in China

A father in southern China has triggered widespread public outrage after reportedly signing a letter of understanding forgiving his girlfriend, who is accused of killing his 18-month-old son by kicking him in the abdomen.The case, which took place in the Guangdong province, gained national attention after the child’s mother, the man’s ex-wife, called for a full investigation, as cited by South China Morning Post.The child’s mother, surnamed Xie, said she separated from her husband in April last year after more than a decade of marriage, during which they had two sons. She was granted custody of their elder child, while her ex-husband, surnamed Li, was given custody of their younger son.In November last year, Xie said she received a call from her former father-in-law informing her of the toddler’s death and asking for permission to bury him at the family’s ancestral home.She rushed to the hospital, where Li was already completing paperwork for the cremation. Doctors later told her that the child had suffered injuries to the back of his head and that his abdomen was “swollen like a balloon,” prompting them to recommend an autopsy.Xie immediately alerted police. An investigation later found that the toddler had been kicked in the abdomen multiple times on three occasions—three days before his death and again one day prior. He died from ruptured injuries to the liver, pancreas and intestines, according to the findings.Authorities said the abuse was allegedly carried out by Li’s girlfriend, surnamed Guo, who had left her job as a salesperson in August and had been living with Li while caring for the child full-time.Guo reportedly kept her relationship and cohabitation with Li hidden from her family and gradually grew frustrated with the boy’s behaviour. Reports also suggest she had previously subjected him to pinching and beatings.Li defended his decision to sign a letter of understanding, saying he believed Guo was caring for the child and had no intention of harming him.However, Xie strongly opposed the letter and brought the case to the media, calling for justice for her son.“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 said as cited by the South China Morning Post. Liu Kai, a lawyer at Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, said that the letter of understanding signed by Li carries legal significance as it was provided by one of the victim’s parents. However, he noted that its impact would be limited given that the child’s other parent has opposed it.He added that under China’s Criminal Law, those who cause death through especially cruel means may face sentences ranging from at least 10 years in prison to life imprisonment, or even the death penalty.Liu also observed that the fact the victim was a minor could lead to even harsher sentencing in such cases.Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.