Chinese Mother Accidentally Kills Daughter During 'Exorcism' Ritual, Jailed

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 10:59 IST

A Shenzhen court gave Li and her elder daughter suspended jail terms for negligent homicide after an exorcism ritual led to Xie's death, sparking debate on superstition in China.

A Shenzhen court gave Li and her elder daughter suspended jail terms for negligent homicide after an exorcism ritual led to Xie's death, sparking debate on superstition in China. (AI Image)

A court in southern China has handed a suspended prison sentence to a woman who accidentally caused the death of her younger daughter while carrying out what she believed was an exorcism ritual at their home, authorities said.

According to the South China Morning Post, a court in Shenzhen, in Guangdong, sentenced the woman, identified by the surname Li, to three years in jail, suspended for four years, in July. Her elder daughter, who participated in the ritual, received the same punishment. Both were convicted of negligent homicide.

Prosecutors said Li and her two daughters had become deeply influenced by superstitious beliefs involving telepathy, possession and demonic forces. They reportedly believed that demons were attacking them and that their souls had been “sold."

In December last year, the younger daughter, surnamed Xie, told her family she was possessed and asked her mother and sister to carry out an exorcism. During the ritual, the two allegedly pressed on her chest and poured water into her mouth to induce vomiting. At one point, the victim reportedly said the ritual was working and encouraged them to continue.

The following morning, other family members found the young woman unconscious and bleeding from the mouth and alerted the police. Paramedics later pronounced her dead at the scene.

In its ruling, the court said the mother and elder sister did not intend to kill the victim and genuinely believed they were trying to help her. However, their actions directly led to her death and constituted criminal negligence. The court cited their cooperation with investigators and expressions of remorse as mitigating factors in granting suspended sentences.

Public reaction

The case has sparked widespread debate on Chinese social media, known for its strong reactions to cases involving superstition. “This is such a horrible and senseless tragedy," one user wrote, while another commented, “What kind of cult thinking is this? Are we really living in 2025?"

Several users called for stronger science education and public awareness to counter dangerous superstitious beliefs. “People who believe in cult-like ideas often refuse to accept reality," one comment read. “They would rather believe the ‘demon’ was too powerful than admit they were wrong."

News world Chinese Mother Accidentally Kills Daughter During 'Exorcism' Ritual, Jailed

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