China's top court on Friday highlighted the outcome of a high-profile case involving a man who mentally abused his ex-girlfriend, calling it a landmark ruling that confirms humiliation and degrading treatment of family members as forms of domestic violence.

The Supreme People's Court underscored the case ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Wednesday, observed annually on Nov 25, stressing that "domestic violence is not merely a family dispute; psychological abuse is also a form of domestic violence".

A man identified by his surname, Mu, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison after a court found his conduct amounted to domestic violence and met the threshold for the crime of maltreatment under the Criminal Law.

Mu began a romantic relationship in August 2018 with a woman identified by the pseudonym Chen. From September 2018 to October 2019, the two lived together in a student apartment in Beijing and in their respective family homes. Between January and February 2019, they visited their parents in Guangdong and Shandong provinces. By January 2019, Mu became increasingly dissatisfied with Chen's past sexual experiences and repeatedly questioned her about them, sparking arguments and subjecting her to continuous verbal abuse.

On June 13, 2019, following an argument, Chen attempted to harm herself by slitting her wrists. Two months later, another dispute led her to ingest medication, prompting the hospital she was taken to to issue a critical condition notice declaring her a danger to herself.

On Oct 9 that same year, after another verbally abusive argument at Mu's home, Chen left and checked into a hotel where she ingested medication she bought online. She was later found and taken to hospital where she remained in a comatose state until she died on April 11, 2020, at age 24.

A Beijing court ruled that Mu's long-term abuse led to the deterioration of Chen's mental state and ultimately her death. It also determined that the couple qualified as family members because they had lived together for an extended period, intended to start a family, and were psychologically and financially interdependent.

Following the ruling, the SPC reiterated that domestic violence "is not limited to physical abuse such as hitting", and that Mu's sustained humiliation and demeaning behavior toward a family member amounted to psychological violence.

The court on Friday also released seven additional domestic violence cases, signaling a "zero tolerance "stance toward those who harm family members and pledging continued judicial efforts to protect victims' rights.

It said Chinese courts are empowered to allow experts with specialized knowledge to testify, helping judges better understand the psychology and behavior of defendants and victims. The court also stressed the importance of protecting young victims.

"As the last line of defense in upholding justice, every court bears significant responsibility in protecting victims of domestic violence, sanctioning perpetrators and repairing social relationships," it said, urging courts nationwide to decisively confront all forms of violence to ensure that the public "perceives fairness and justice in every judicial proceeding".

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn