An alternative healer was today convicted of manslaughter after a diabetic grandmother died at his slap therapy workshop.
Hongchi Xiao, 61, had an ‘unshakeable’ belief that Western medicine is ‘evil’ and refused to call for help while Danielle Carr-Gomm lay dying.
He had ‘congratulated’ the 71-year-old when she stopped taking insulin at his four-day retreat where he performed paida lajin, a Chinese holistic therapy which involves slapping patients.
Mrs Carr-Gomm – a follower of Xiao’s who wanted to get rid of her type 1 diabetes – fell gravely ill during the 2016 course and was heard ‘howling in pain’ before dying of diabetic ketoacidosis on day four.
Xiao ignored medical evidence that diabetics needs lifesaving insulin and ‘evangelised’ his slap therapy course as a ‘cure’ for diabetes.
He 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.
Hongchi Xiao, 61, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Danielle Carr-Gomm
Mrs Carr-Gomm, a follower of Xiao’s who wanted to get rid of her type 1 diabetes, fell gravely ill over the course of the October 2016 workshop
Many medical practitioners have criticised the practice, saying that it causes bruises and results in broken blood vessels leading to horrific injuries such as those pictured above
Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Mrs Carr-Gomm had sought alternatives to her insulin medication for type 1 diabetes because of her vegetarianism and fear of needles.
She had first joined a Paida Lajin workshop, which means ‘slap and stretch’, run by the defendant in Bulgaria in July 2016.
She became seriously ill after stopping her insulin medicine before she restarted and subsequently recovered.
Mr Atkinson described how Mrs Carr-Gomm went on to attend another of Xiao’s workshops in Wiltshire in October of that year.
The court had heard how Xiao said ‘well done’ to Mrs Carr-Gomm, after she told the group she had stopped taking her insulin at the week-long retreat, and she became seriously ill.
Mr Atkinson said that 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’.
A chef at the workshop, Teresa Hayes, told jurors Mrs Carr-Gomm was ‘delirious’ and ‘frothing at the mouth’ before she died, adding that she wanted to call an ambulance but trusted those with more experience of the holistic healing method.
Mr Atkinson described how the defendant failed to get medical help for Mrs Carr-Gomm before she died in the early hours of the fourth day.
The prosecutor said: ‘Those who had received and accepted the defendant’s teachings misinterpreted Mrs Carr-Gomm’s condition as a healing crisis.’
He said that Xiao had been an ‘exponent’ of Paida Lajin for 10 years and had written a book on it.
Mr Atkinson said: ‘It is said to be a method of self-healing in which ‘poisonous waste’ is expelled from the body through patting and slapping parts of the body.’
He added: ‘He does not have medical qualifications or training.
‘In a book that he wrote about Paida Lajin, the defendant asserted that the taking of insulin leads to liver and eye problems, and that in contrast the Paida Lajin was ‘safer and more reliable than existing healing practices’ which would result in ‘significant improvement’ or full recovery in 90% of cases, including cases of diabetes.’
He added that Xiao also wrote in the book that ‘doctors are brainwashed by drug producers to act as salespersons for their drugs’.
The 71-year-old, who had diabetes, ended up dead from the consequences of Xaio’s unorthodox methods
A significant purple bruise, appearing as though made with the palm of a hand, appears on a paida lajin participant’s tummy
Xiao claims these horrific marks left on the skin show the presence of toxins in the body
The court heard that Mrs Carr-Gomm had provided a testimonial for Xiao, describing him as 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 health care’.
Mrs Carr-Gomm was born in France and moved to the UK aged 21.
Speaking after her death, her son Matthew Carr-Gomm, who lives in New Zealand, said: ‘She was always keen to try and find alternative methods of treating and dealing with her diabetes, and was very interested in alternative and holistic medicine and therapies.
‘I know she was desperate to try and cure herself of this disease.
‘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 the death of Mrs Carr-Gomm had come as a ‘huge shock’ to the family.
Giving evidence during the trial, Xiao said he would ‘never’ persuade someone who needed insulin not to take it, adding that insulin is ‘useful’.
On his attitude towards medication at his workshops, he added: ‘First of all, I said I’m not a medical doctor, so everyone is responsible for their own medication.
‘Secondly, I’m not fully against medicine, what I’m concerned about is the side effect of the medicine.’
Xiao claimed slap therapy could cure people from immune diseases such as diabetes , arthritis and even cancer and autism
Court sketch of Xiao at Winchester Crown Court
A person covered in red marks across the backs of their legs after taking part in paida lajin
Xiao, at a workshop in 2015, is pictured performing his paida lajin slapping and stretching method on a willing participant
Thanking the jury for their ‘record’ number of questions, the judge said: ‘You are a shining example of why the jury system we have is something this country we can be incredibly proud of.’
Rosemary Ainslie, head the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘Hongchi Xiao knew the consequences of Danielle Carr-Gomm’s decision to stop taking insulin could be fatal, he had seen it before.
‘Hongchi Xiao was the man in charge, yet he failed to respond to Mrs Carr-Gomm’s worsening condition with tragic consequences.
‘His failure to take reasonable steps to help Mrs Carr-Gomm substantially contributed to her death and amounted to gross negligence.
Wiltshire Police’s Detective Constable Dave Topp said Mrs Carr-Gomm had ‘put her trust’ in the ‘extremely convincing’ Hongchi Xiao.
The mother and grandmother had a ‘love for travelling’ before her tragic death in 2016.
Speaking outside Winchester Crown Court, he said: ‘Xiao had no medical qualifications or experience but claimed to be a self professed master in paida lajin – an ancient Chinese method for self-healing which involves slapping and stretching techniques to cure conditions such as diabetes.
‘However Danielle’s health deteriorated whilst in the care of Xiao and she sadly died.
‘A major investigation launched into her death and Xiao was arrested.”
He continued: ‘Despite having no medical qualifications Xiao actively encouraged those attending his workshops to stop taking medication, knowing full-well the consequences.
‘Danielle put her trust in Xiao, he was extremely convincing and confident in his beliefs.
‘This has been an extremely complex investigation with a high level of medical expertise sought before Xiao could be extradited and put before the courts.
‘The passage of time which as been out of our control has added further challenges and complications to our investigation.
‘Xiao’s not guilty plea has only shown the little remorse he has over Danielle’s death and has made an extremely difficult and upsetting process for Danielle’s family even more prolonged and distressing.
‘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.’
Xiao will be sentenced on October 1.
