A controversial alternative healer has been sentenced to prison after a woman died during one of his "slapping therapy" workshops in England.
Hongchi Xiao promoted a self-devised practice called "paida lajin," which he claimed could cure illnesses through slapping and stretching, purportedly releasing "poisonous waste" from the body, East Bay Times reported.
Danielle Carr-Gomm, desperate for an alternative to insulin injections for her Type 1 diabetes, attended Xiao's retreat in Wiltshire, England, after previously experiencing health issues during his workshop in Bulgaria.
Xiao had already been convicted of manslaughter in Australia after a similar incident in 2015 involving the death of a six-year-old boy.
During the 2016 workshop, Carr-Gomm stopped taking her insulin as encouraged by Xiao. By the third day, she became severely ill, vomiting, crying in pain and frothing at the mouth, while other attendees mistook her condition for a "healing crisis."
Despite recognizing the severity of her condition, Xiao did not seek medical help, resulting in her death from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Xiao has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for gross negligence manslaughter, which includes 10 years in prison and a 5-year extended license period.
Originally published by Latin Times
