ABC News - Australia September 28, 2009
Parents jailed over baby's death
By Liv Casben
A couple who relied on homeopathic treatments for their eczema-stricken baby daughter have been jailed over her death.
Thomas Sam, 42, and his wife Manju, 37, were found guilty of the most serious case of manslaughter by criminal negligence.
The judge said their nine-month-old daughter Gloria had suffered helplessly and unnecessarily from a treatable condition and sentenced the pair to a total of 10 years behind bars.
Thomas Sam got the longer sentence of at least six years because, as a homeopath, he had a double duty of care.
Minutes after he was handcuffed, his wife Manju was taken into custody for the first time.
She was jailed for four years.
Their daughter Gloria was so sick with eczema that she constantly cried in pain, her skin broken and oozing fluid, the court heard.
Both parents were well educated and the judge found they should have known better.
They repeatedly rejected conventional medical treatment and instead opted for homeopathic remedies.
Then, against doctors' orders, they took the baby girl to India where her condition deteriorated.
Judge Peter Johnson concluded it was the "most serious case of manslaughter by criminal negligence".
The couple wept as Justice Johnson detailed the pain their daughter would have experienced.
He said they should have known just how sick she was.
Instead they delayed her treatment at hospital because Manju said they were tired and jetlagged.
She died three days after being admitted to hospital.
"She was very a very sick infant with eroding skin, her distress would have been apparent to her parents," Justice Johnson said.
Dejected supporters left court still reeling from the judgment.
For Thomas Sam, his legal fight is not over as he faces separate charges, accused of threatening his lawyers.
This article was found at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/28/2698762.htm
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