In Shaanxi’s Yongshou County, 32-year-old woman Miao Miao suffered long-term domestic violence from her husband Zhang during their 9 years of marriage. In 2024, she filed for divorce, which was rejected by the local court. Just 13 days later, Miao Miao was knocked unconscious by her husband and thrown off a cliff to her death. The case is being heard today (May 26) in the Yongshou County Court.
According to reports from Daxiang News and Xin Huanghe, the day before the courtroom hearing on May 25, several relatives of Miao Miao recounted the tragic events.
According to family members, Miao Miao and Zhang got engaged about 2 months after meeting through a blind date, and they had two sons together. The couple often argued, and Zhang would physically abuse Miao Miao, only to apologize afterwards. Concerned for their two children, Miao Miao hesitated to divorce.
It wasn’t until August 20, 2024, when Miao Miao was beaten by Zhang again, that she called 110 for help that evening. Afterward, she sought medical help at a mental health rehabilitation hospital in Xi’an, where the diagnosis showed anxiety, depression, and fear. Finally, Miao Miao made up her mind to divorce Zhang.
On November 6, 2024, Miao Miao filed for divorce with the local court citing irreconcilable differences. On December 11, 2024, the court rejected their divorce lawsuit request.
Afterwards, Miao Miao rented a house in a village near Xi’an to escape domestic violence. However, on December 22, 2024, Zhang found her rental address based on a delivery notification from Miao Miao. An argument about their marriage ensued, and out of anger, Zhang physically attacked Miao Miao.
The lawsuit showed that Zhang had been physically assaulting Miao Miao for a long time, grabbing her head and hitting her against a cement pillar until she lost consciousness. Instead of taking her to the hospital, Zhang drove around between Xi’an and Yongshou County with her. Believing Miao Miao had already died when she stopped breathing and became cold, he then threw her off a roadside cliff several tens of meters deep. Zhang’s sister was also present at the scene. Judicial examination confirmed that Miao Miao died from a high fall causing severe injuries to her head, thorax, and abdominal organs.
Afterwards, Zhang falsely reported to the police that Miao Miao had jumped off the cliff herself. He even went to Miao Miao’s father’s house that day, urging to bring her back quickly, saying, “If you bring her back, we will divorce,” and even spreading rumors that her family wanted her to remarry for dowry.
Close to a year and a half since Miao Miao’s murder, her brother told the media that since the incident, the whole family felt shattered, with their parents deeply affected and the mother in poor mental health. He returned to their hometown and has been tirelessly seeking justice for his sister.
Miao Miao’s parents stated, “We do not seek any civil compensation, we only hope the court will sentence him to death. Restore justice for our daughter, and those in his family who covered up for him should also face criminal punishment.”
It was reported that Zhang’s father instructed Zhang to make a false police report, and he and his daughter provided false testimony to the authorities, leading to them being detained for 10 days and fined 500 Yuan each.
On May 26, during the court hearing, Miao Miao’s brother and parents were present, awaiting the verdict which is yet to be announced.