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Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop

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Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop
News

News

Alternative healer gets 10 years in UK prison for death of woman at slap therapy workshop

2024-12-06 22:17 Last Updated At:22:30

LONDON (AP) — An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during one of his workshops.

Hongchi Xiao, 61, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence for failing to get medical help for Danielle Carr-Gomm as she howled in pain and frothed at the mouth during the fourth day of a workshop in October 2016.

Xiao, of Cloudbreak, California, promoted paida lajin therapy, getting patients to slap themselves repeatedly to release “poisonous waste” from the body. The technique has its roots in Chinese medicine, but critics say it has no scientific basis and patients often end up with bruises, bleeding — or worse.

Carr-Gomm was one of two of Xiao’s patients who died.

He was extradited from Australia, where he had been convicted of manslaughter after a 6-year-old boy died when his parents withdrew his insulin medication after attending one of his workshops in Sydney.

“I consider you dangerous even though you do not share the characteristics of most other dangerous offenders,” Justice Robert Bright said during sentencing at Winchester Crown Court.

“You knew from late in the afternoon of day one of the fact that Danielle Carr-Gomm had stopped taking her insulin,” the judge said. "Furthermore, you made it clear to her you supported this.”

Bright said Xiao only made a “token effort” to get Carr-Gomm to take her insulin once it was too late and had shown no sign of remorse as he continued to promote paida lajin in prison.

Carr-Gomm was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999 and was desperate to find a cure that didn't involve injecting herself with needles, her son, Matthew, said.

She sought out alternative treatments and had attended a previous workshop by Xiao in Bulgaria a few months before her death in which she also became seriously ill after ceasing her medication.

However, she recorded a video testimonial, calling Xiao a “messenger sent by God” who was “starting a revolution to put the power back in the hands of the people to cure themselves and to change the whole system of healthcare."

Xiao had congratulated Carr-Gomm when she told other participants at the English retreat that she had stopped taking her insulin.

By day three, Carr-Gomm was "vomiting, tired and weak, and by the evening she was howling in pain and unable to respond to questions,” prosecutor Duncan Atkinson said.

A chef who wanted to call an ambulance said she deferred to those with holistic healing experience.

“Those who had received and accepted the defendant’s teachings misinterpreted Mrs. Carr-Gomm’s condition as a healing crisis,” Atkinson said.

This photo issued by Wiltshire Police on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 shows Danielle Carr-Gomm who died when an alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies failed to get her medical help, during the fourth day of a workshop in October 2016. (Wiltshire Police via AP)

This photo issued by Wiltshire Police on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 shows Danielle Carr-Gomm who died when an alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies failed to get her medical help, during the fourth day of a workshop in October 2016. (Wiltshire Police via AP)

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor on Saturday in a trade that sent right-hander Slade Cecconi to the Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians, who have remodeled the right side of their infield this winter, also received a competitive balance Round B draft pick in 2025.

Cleveland moved quickly to fill the hole left by Naylor, agreeing with veteran free agent first baseman Carlos Santana on a one-year, $12 million contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The Naylor trade is the second significant move in weeks by the AL Central champions, who dealt Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez to Toronto in a three-team swap. The Guardians also acquired right-hander Luis Ortiz from the Pirates.

The 27-year-old Naylor made his first All-Star team this season and hit a career-high 31 homers with 108 RBIs. He's been Cleveland's starting first baseman in each of the past three seasons and will become a free agent after the 2025 season.

The Diamondbacks were in the market for a first baseman after Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros on Friday. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said Naylor's presence in the middle of the batting order should fit well with Eugenio Suarez, Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

The 25-year-old Cecconi has spent parts of the past two seasons in the big leagues. He had a 2-7 record with a 6.66 ERA last season, pitching in 20 games, including 13 starts.

Santana spent 10 seasons with Cleveland early his career over two stretches, starting out as a catcher before moving to first. The switch-hitter’s deal is pending a physical, said a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn't finalized.

Santana was one of the club’s most popular players from 2010-17 before signing as a free agent with Philadelphia. However, his time with the Phillies didn’t go as expected and he re-signed with the Guardians in 2019 for two seasons.

Santana brings leadership and experience to a Cleveland team that won 92 games and ran away with its division last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. The Guardians beat Detroit in the AL Division Series before losing the ALCS to the New York Yankees in five games.

The 38-year-old played for the Minnesota Twins last season, batting .238 with 23 homers and 71 RBIs. He's also been with Kansas City, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.

Naylor was a solid run producer and protected All-Star José Ramírez in Cleveland's lineup. But his fielding was often suspect, and the Guardians have some other options they’d like to try going forward at first, including Kyle Manzardo.

Naylor’s departure also means he’ll no longer be teammates with younger brother, Bo, Cleveland’s primary catcher.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Slade Cecconi (43) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during a baseball game, July 10, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Slade Cecconi (43) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during a baseball game, July 10, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

FILE - Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor watches his RBI single against the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

FILE - Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor watches his RBI single against the New York Yankees during the third inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

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