Father And Step-Mother Found Guilty Of Beating And Starving 5-Year-Old For Years Till Her Death

During the hearing against a couple charged with the death of their five-year-old daughter, the court was shown a drawing by the child of a blood-covered house. The exhibit was used to show the abuse that the child, Chen Ruilin, had been subjected to for years. Her parents and grandmother were found guilty of child abuse charges against them. The Honk Kong residents will be sentenced later this month.

In January 2018, the young child was taken to a hospital where doctors found over 130 new and historical wounds on her small body. Doctors reported that some of the wounds appeared to be inflicted with a cane or a scissor.

The child was unwell and shortly after being taken to the hospital, she passed away. A post-mortem examination showed that she died due to a bacterial infection that her immune system could not handle. The Sun reported that the child’s immune system was compromised due to the years of abuse she faced.

Ruilin’s eight-year-old brother had also been abused by the family. He was removed from their care. His paternal grandmother is presently caring for the child.

In the court exhibits and reports from family members, teachers and doctors painted a gruesome picture of abuse. The court heard how 29-year-old father Chen Haiping and 30-year-old stepmother Huang Xiaotong starved and beat the children. On an occasion, the child was violently thrown upwards so high that her head smashed against the ceiling leaving her with a head injury. The charges against the couple are unclear, however, the children’s 56-year-old grandmother faces two child abuse charges, The Daily Star reported.

Since the death of the defenseless child, questions have been raised about the inaction of authorities. How the children’s abuse went unreported by other family members and teachers has been questioned. At the time when the incident was reported, social workers promised that how Ruilin’s abuse went undetected will be investigated.

The accused couple was found guilty of causing the child’s death after a one-month trial. Their sentencing will take place on April 20. They could be handed a life sentence, which could have been the death penalty before Hong Kong abolished it in 1993.