Shaanxi court gives death penalty with reprieve to man who killed his wife

A man surnamed Li was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for pouring noodle soup over his wife, causing her to asphyxiate, Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

The Weinan Intermediate People's Court in Shaanxi province found Li guilty of intentional homicide and deprived him of his political rights for life, according to the first-instance judgment.

Court records show Li and the victim, surnamed Wu, were married. Since June 2024, the couple had clashes after Wu engaged in inappropriate social contacts online.

On Sept 4, 2024, after drinking, Li assaulted Wu and poured room-temperature noodle soup onto her, which led to her death. Forensic examination determined Wu died of asphyxiation after aspirating the soup.

The court said it imposed a lighter sentence because Li surrendered, because the victim bore some responsibility for the incident, and because Wu's relatives had forgiven him, Xinhua reported.