On July 13th, the first trial of a former police officer in Leshan City, Sichuan Province, who repeatedly abused his wife after marriage and fatally stabbed her with two kitchen knives during an argument in 2025, was sentenced. The defendant Gao was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for intentional homicide, with restrictions on sentence reductions.
In September 2022, 54-year-old Zuxiang Cui met Gao, then a police officer at Leshan City Detention Center, through a mutual acquaintance. The two got married the following month. However, over the three years of marriage, Zuxiang Cui suffered multiple incidents of domestic violence from her husband. Gao had written several promises, one of which stated: “In February 2023, I hit you once, in August 2023, I hit you once, in September 2023, I hit you once… I promise not to lay a hand on you again in the future.”
On November 22, 2024, the Dashanping Police Station in Leshan issued a warning letter on domestic violence to Gao.
On November 25, 2024, the police station issued a security mediation agreement stating that due to frequent disputes over trivial matters, Gao had repeatedly beaten Zuxiang Cui, causing her multiple injuries. After mediation, both parties voluntarily reached an agreement.
Zuxiang Cui had previously applied for a personal safety protection order from the court.
On June 25, 2025, while Gao was leaving for work, he was detained by Zuxiang Cui in the elevator, leading to an argument when they returned home. Gao grabbed Zuxiang Cui’s hair and dragged her into the kitchen, where he used two kitchen knives to repeatedly slash at her head and upper body, causing her to bleed to death from multiple sharp injuries.
After the incident, Gao called the police and waited at the scene for arrest.
The court concluded that Gao’s actions constituted intentional homicide.
The victim’s daughter, Wang Lu, expressed that her mother had suffered repeated domestic violence but did not confide in her. Wang Lu had advised her mother to leave, but it was not agreed upon. Wang Lu admitted that emotionally, she hoped for Gao to be sentenced to immediate execution.
This case of a police officer killing his wife has sparked public debate, with related topics trending on Weibo. Many people believe that taking a life should result in capital punishment and question the court’s judgment.
A Weibo user, “Hengdian Scene Resident,” posted that within less than three years from acquaintance to marriage to victimization, the victim suffered multiple incidents of abuse. The perpetrator, as a prison police officer, knowing the law but breaking it, should be given a heavier sentence. Why was he spared his life?
Another Weibo user, “I am Musheng,” also questioned why a police officer who knows the law and breaks it was not given a harsher punishment. Starting from 2023 with promises, warnings, mediation agreements, and a personal safety protection order, the victim still ended up being killed… Can multiple intentional acts of harm be offset by a marriage certificate?
Multiple netizens questioned, stating that the “promises” made by the police officer who killed his wife were like a “death warrant.”
“The fact proves that the promise has no effect!” “Why does action only follow when someone is killed?” “In 2024, he committed intentional harm, why was mediation reached?” “Why a reprieve? Knowing and breaking the law, unforgivable crimes!”