I apologized for statement including "most posters".
I respectfully disagree with your definition of emotional abuse. Here is a link that describes emotion abuse AMONG many other ways as... "
"Withholding includes refusing to listen, refusing to communicate, and emotionally withdrawing as punishment. This is sometimes called the “silent treatment.”
"Minimizing is a less extreme form of denial. When minimizing, the abuser may not deny that a particular event occurred, but they question the recipient’s emotional experience or reaction to an event. Statements such as “You’re too sensitive,” “You’re exaggerating,” or “You’re blowing this out of proportion” all suggest that the recipient’s emotions and perceptions are faulty and not to be trusted.
Trivializing, which occurs when the abuser suggests that what you have done or communicated is inconsequential or unimportant, is a more subtle form of minimizing.
Denying and minimizing can be particularly damaging. In addition to lowering self-esteem and creating conflict, the invalidation of reality, feelings, and experiences can eventually lead you to question and mistrust your own perceptions and emotional experience."
http://www.counselingcenter.illinois.edu/?page_id=168
Emotional Abuse takes many many forms.
AGAIN I am in no way saying TA did anything to warrant his horrible death. My MOO he wasn't very nice in the way he treated JA and TA, as this link shows he very well might not have known he was hurting her emotionally!