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A Chinese woman has been ordered to pay US$31,000 to the family of her boyfriend, who died after jumping from the car she was driving during a heated argument, authorities said.
The incident occurred in April last year in Hejin, a city in Shanxi province. Prosecutors determined that the woman, identified as Liu, bore partial responsibility for the man’s death and must pay 218,000 yuan (US$31,000) in compensation.
According to reports, the man called Liu while drunk, telling her he intended to take his own life. Concerned, Liu drove from her home in Yuncheng, also in Shanxi, to his residence in Hejin to try and dissuade him.
Footage from the car’s dashboard camera captured the moment the man unexpectedly opened the door and leaped from the moving vehicle. Liu reportedly taunted him during the argument, saying things that referenced death, which prosecutors said contributed to the tragic outcome.
Following the incident, Liu was detained by local police. Prosecutors later concluded that her behavior had played a role in the man’s decision to jump, resulting in her being held financially accountable.
Legal experts note that while the man’s actions were voluntary, Chinese courts can hold individuals liable if their words or actions are found to have influenced someone’s death. In this case, Liu’s taunting during a moment of extreme emotional distress was seen as a contributing factor.