Alternative healer jailed over slapping therapy death 'likely to continue practice'

A judge jailing a "dangerous" alternative healer over the death of a diabetic woman at his slapping therapy workshop warned there "is a significant risk history will again repeat itself".

- TARA COBHAM

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, was "howling in pain" and "frothing at the mouth" before she died on the fourth day of the Paida Lajin therapy event in October 2016, where patients are slapped or slap themselves repeatedly.

A court heard the pensioner had wanted to call an ambulance but the defendant, whom she believed was a “messenger sent by God”, failed to get medical help after telling her “well done” when she said she was no longer taking her insulin medication. Hongchi Xiao, of Cloudbreak in California, was convicted in July by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Carr-Gomm, from Lewes in East Sussex.

The 61-year-old was extradited for the trial from Australia, where he had previously been prosecuted over the death of a six-year-old boy who also died after his parents withdrew his insulin medication after attending the defendant’s workshop in Sydney. Xiao was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Winchester Crown Court yesterday. He was also sentenced to a further five years on extended licence after his time in prison.

Passing the sentence, the judge issued a warning about the serious dangers posed by the “undiminished belief” in Paida Lajin that was still held by Xiao and his supporters. Judge Mr Justice Bright told the defendant: “I am certain that when you finish serving your sentence there is a significant risk history will again repeat itself – this constitutes serious harm to members of the public. In this specific regard I consider you dangerous, even though you do not share the characteristics of most other dangerous offenders.”