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Slapping therapist jailed after woman's death | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Video shows alternative healer using 'slapping therapy' | |
An alternative healer has been jailed for 10 years for the manslaughter of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin at his slapping therapy workshop. | |
Danielle Carr-Gomm died in October 2016 while taking part in the Paida Lajin therapy event, which sees patients being slapped or slapping themselves repeatedly. | |
Hongchi Xiao, of Cloudbreak, California, was convicted by a jury in July at Winchester Crown Court of manslaughter by gross negligence after he failed to get medical help for Mrs Carr-Gomm at the event in Wiltshire. | |
He was also sentenced to a further five years on extended licence after his time in prison. | |
The 61-year-old was extradited for the trial from Australia, where he had previously been prosecuted after a six-year-old boy also died when his parents withdrew his insulin medication after attending the defendant's workshop in Sydney. | |
Mr Justice Bright added Xiao will be liable to be deported to America after serving his sentence. | |
Hongchi Xiao is liable to being deported back to the US | |
Ms Carr-Gomm died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, in October 2016 while taking part in the Paida Lajin therapy event, which sees patients being slapped or slapping themselves repeatedly. | |
Mrs Carr-Gomm, from Lewes in East Sussex, had Type 1 diabetes, meaning she had to take insulin every day to keep her blood glucose levels under control. | |
Yet she had a lifelong fear of needles and had frequently sought other ways to deal with the disease. | |
Paida Lajin, which means "slapping and stretching" is a therapy in which people slap themselves and others in order to expel toxins from the body. | |
Ms Carr-Gomm believed it worked and delivered glowing testimonials, the court previously heard. | |
Danielle Carr-Gomm's fear of needles is what drove her to finding alternative remedies | |
Sentencing Xiao on Friday, Mr Bright said: "You congratulated her [Danielle] when you found out she had stopped taking insulin. | |
"You failed to summon emergency medical care when you of all people knew she was likely to die without insulin." | |
He added that Xiao did "not present a danger" to anyone save outside of those who believed in his type of therapy, which is called Paida Lajin. | |
"I believe you will continue to practice it. There is a risk you will actively or tacitly encourage followers to reduce their medication. | |
"Letters from your supporters and the undiminished belief they and you have in Paida Lajin make me apprehensive. | |
"I'm concerned history may repeat itself and this presents a risk to the public. In this specific regard I consider you dangerous." |