Deliberations to Begin in Wisconsin Dad's Faith-Healing Death Trial

[Heather]

A jury in central Wisconsin will begin deliberating Friday in the case of a father charged with homicide for allegedly praying instead of taking his dying daughter to a doctor.

Dale Neumann was the last witness called Thursday in his second-degree reckless homicide trial in Wausau.

He told jurors he couldn't seek medical treatment for his 11-year-old daughter Madeline — who suffered from undiagnosed diabetes — without disobeying God.

"I can't do that because Biblically, I cannot find that is the way people are healed," Neumann said.

Attorneys will make closing arguments Friday morning and then give the jury the case.

Prosecutors contend the 47-year-old father of three other children had a legal duty to take the girl to the hospital because her health had deteriorated to the point she couldn't walk, talk or eat.

Neumann testified he believed praying for the girl was needed because all healing comes from God and he never expected her to die.

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," Neumann said. "I am not believing what he said he would do."
 

Madeline died March 23, 2008, of diabetes on the floor of the family's rural Weston home as people surrounded her and prayed.


full story @ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,535861,00.html

[Cheesehead]

He is guilty of murder, of his own child.

Cheese

[slim rem 7]

i don t know im really into leaving families to raise the children ,,with parents having the say.... but then again i couldn watch my baby die because of some religous belief either..common sense should win out... jmo slim

[Oldshooter]

second-degree reckless homicide

 Whats second degree, sounds more like first degree stupid

If not murder at the very least negligent homicide!

Now I might take a gun and make a doctor see my child if there were no other way but not refuse to get help!

[alsaqr]

I hope they put that nutcase away for a good long time.  Put him in a cell with Leroy from the Outlaws motorcycle club. 

[Hooker]

What stupidity!! People like this claim to put God first in all thing yet they toss the gifts that God has given them away.
God gave this man a brain yet he does not use it. God gave him access to learned folks who can help and he does not use them.
And the worst waste of all. God gave him a child to love and to care for, but he threw that precious gift away for sake of his prideful piety.

Pat
 

[torpedoman]

From the responses i dont think that many realize just how close you are to being charged with child abuse/endangerment for having a firearm in the same house with a child. the government has no place in raiseing your kids,His choice would not have been mine but it was HIS choice. motorcycle helmets, seat belts, child seats, booster seats, Keeping most of your guns unloaded, keeping them locked up so your kids cant play with them all are great IDEAS and should not be LAWS.

[alsaqr]

Neumann was found guilty.  Yes, sometimes there is justice.


  http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090801/OSH0101/308010086/1128&located=rss

WAUSAU — A Wisconsin man accused of killing his 11-year-old daughter by praying instead of seeking medical care was found guilty Saturday of second-degree reckless homicide.

Dale Neumann, 47, was convicted in the March 23, 2003, death of his daughter, Madeline, from undiagnosed diabetes. Prosecutors contended he should have rushed the girl to a hospital because she couldn’t walk, talk, eat or speak. Instead, Madeline died on the floor of the family’s rural Weston home as people surrounded her and prayed. Someone called 911 when she stopped breathing.

Neumann’s 41-year-old wife, Leilani, was convicted on the same charge in the spring and is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 6. Both face up to 25 years in prison.

What is 2nd degree reckless homicide?   



 

[mirage1988]

From the responses i dont think that many realize just how close you are to being charged with child abuse/endangerment for having a firearm in the same house with a child. the government has no place in raiseing your kids,His choice would not have been mine but it was HIS choice. motorcycle helmets, seat belts, child seats, booster seats, Keeping most of your guns unloaded, keeping them locked up so your kids cant play with them all are great IDEAS and should not be LAWS.

Sorry tp but watching your kid die from undiagnosed diabetes isn't the same as the example you give of child endangerment. He should be locked in a cage and starved, which is what he did to his daughter!

[Skunk]

What is 2nd degree reckless homicide?

In Wisconsin:

940.06 Second−degree reckless homicide.

(1) Whoever recklessly causes the death of another human being is guilty of a Class D felony.

(2) Whoever recklessly causes the death of an unborn child is guilty of a Class D felony.

History: 1987 a. 399; 1997 a. 295; 2001 a. 109.

Judicial Council Note, 1988: Second−degree reckless homicide is analogous to the prior offense of homicide by reckless conduct. The revised statute clearly requires proof of a subjective mental state, i.e., criminal recklessness. See s. 939.24 and the NOTE thereto. [Bill 191−S]

Second−degree reckless homicide is not a lesser included offense of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. State v. Lechner, 217 Wis. 2d 392, 576 N.W.2d 912 (1998), 96−2830.

The common law “year−and−a−day rule” that no homicide is committed unless the victim dies within a year and a day after the injury is inflicted is abrogated, with prospective application only. State v. Picotte, 2003 WI 42, 261 Wis. 2d 249, 661 N.W.2d 381, 01−3063.

Importance of clarity in law of homicide: The Wisconsin revision. Dickey, Schultz & Fullin. 1989 WLR 1323 (1989).


There is also First-Degree Reckless Homicide:

940.02 First−degree reckless homicide.

(1) Whoever recklessly causes the death of another human being under circumstances which show utter disregard for human life is guilty of a Class B felony.

But note the difference in the language of the act being committed "under circumstances which show utter disregard for human life."

Do you folks think the parents should have been charged with first-degree reckless homicide?

[Oldshooter]

Nope Skunk I dont and here's why,

circumstances which show utter disregard for human life is guilty

They didn't show utter disregard for human life cause they did pray for her, they did show utter disregard for the means to save her life! They are to be pitied, and put in jail!

[billy_56081]

I have a feeling this guy is going to have a very tough time in prison. 

[BBF]

Religious zealots of any type

[skifastchad]

An update here.  This won't be on the national news, but here in Wisconsin, It is headline local news.

As you may know, the Mother was found guilty a few months ago, and now the Father was also found guilty.  They are awaiting sentencing both on October 6th and face up to 25 years each.

... If that ever happens.

The judge just modified their bond conditions and is letting them go on a ONE MONTH vacation to California!  I think Mexico is going to have two new residents next week.

[Oldshooter]

Religious zealots of any type

BBf wont see this cause he has me on ignore but would someone ask him to give his definition of religious zealot.   

could that be anyone who has religion

[powderman]

Nothing wrong with prayer, I've seen many healings from it but God also uses Drs to do his work. These parents were completely wrong and deserve to be punished. POWDERMAN.