Death sentence overturned in 'landmark' Chinese domestic violence case

China's supreme court has overturned the death sentence of a woman convicted of killing her husband after she endured months of domestic abuse, a member of her family said.

The US-based rights group the Dui Hua Foundation hailed the court's decision as "a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications for survivors of domestic violence".

The Supreme People's Court reversed its approval of the death sentence given to 43-year-old Li Yan from Sichuan , her brother Li Dehuai said.

He said he had first learned of the ruling in a letter sent by his sister from prison.

"A court official told me the verdict was returned sometime in May," Li Dehuai said.

Li added he did not know why the court had made the surprise decision or when the court in Sichuan would schedule a retrial.