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Slapping therapist jailed after woman's death | Slapping therapist jailed after woman's death |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Video shows alternative healer using 'slapping therapy' | 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. | 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. | 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 Ms Carr-Gomm at the event in Wiltshire. | 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 Ms Carr-Gomm at the event in Wiltshire. |
He was also sentenced to a further five years on extended licence after his time in prison. | He was also sentenced to a further five years on extended licence after his time in prison. |
The judge told Xiao he was "concerned history may repeat itself" | The judge told Xiao he was "concerned history may repeat itself" |
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. | 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. | Mr Justice Bright added Xiao will be liable to be deported to America after serving his sentence. |
Mr Justice Bright said he did not believe Xiao's assurances that he would not continue his workshops | |
Ms Carr-Gomm died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, in October 2016 while taking part in the Paida Lajin therapy event. | Ms Carr-Gomm died at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, in October 2016 while taking part in the Paida Lajin therapy event. |
Ms 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. | Ms 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. | 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. | 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. | Ms Carr-Gomm believed it worked and delivered glowing testimonials, the court previously heard. |
The court heard that Xiao said "well done" to Ms Carr-Gomm, after she told the participants that she had stopped taking her insulin at the week-long retreat. | The court heard that Xiao said "well done" to Ms Carr-Gomm, after she told the participants that she had stopped taking her insulin at the week-long retreat. |
By the third day "she was vomiting, tired and weak, and by the evening she was howling in pain and unable to respond to questions", prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said. | By the third day "she was vomiting, tired and weak, and by the evening she was howling in pain and unable to respond to questions", prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said. |
Ms Carr-Gomm, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999, was "howling in pain" and "frothing at the mouth" as she became seriously ill before she died on the fourth day of the workshop. | Ms Carr-Gomm, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999, was "howling in pain" and "frothing at the mouth" as she became seriously ill before she died on the fourth day of the workshop. |
Xiao was extradited for the trial from Australia, where he had previously been prosecuted after a six-year-old boy also died in 2015 after his parents stopped giving him insulin. | Xiao was extradited for the trial from Australia, where he had previously been prosecuted after a six-year-old boy also died in 2015 after his parents stopped giving him insulin. |
Ms Carr-Gomm's fear of needles is what drove her to finding alternative remedies | Ms 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. | 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. | "You failed to summon emergency medical care when you of all people knew she was likely to die without insulin. |
"I believe you will continue to practice it. There is a risk you will actively or tacitly encourage followers to reduce their medication. | "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. | "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." | "I'm concerned history may repeat itself and this presents a risk to the public. In this specific regard I consider you dangerous." |
After her death, her son Matthew Carr-Gomm said his mum was "desperate to try and cure herself of the disease". | After her death, her son Matthew Carr-Gomm said his mum was "desperate to try and cure herself of the disease". |
"She always maintained a healthy lifestyle and was adamant that nothing would stop her from living a full life. | "She always maintained a healthy lifestyle and was adamant that nothing would stop her from living a full life. |
"In recent years, mum was in a great place with a partner, a lovely home and was travelling the world. She had a lot of life left in her," he said. | "In recent years, mum was in a great place with a partner, a lovely home and was travelling the world. She had a lot of life left in her," he said. |
Det Ch Insp Phil Walker, of Wiltshire Police, said Xiao's not-guilty plea has only shown the little remorse he has. | Det Ch Insp Phil Walker, of Wiltshire Police, said Xiao's not-guilty plea has only shown the little remorse he has. |
"Danielle was a mother and a grandmother who enjoyed life and had a love of travelling – her death came as a huge shock to her family and friends and our thoughts are very much with them at this time," he said. | "Danielle was a mother and a grandmother who enjoyed life and had a love of travelling – her death came as a huge shock to her family and friends and our thoughts are very much with them at this time," he said. |
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. | Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. |