Praying couple gets jail time
Published:Wednesday | October 7, 2009 | 1:39 PM
A US couple who prayed for their dying daughter rather than seeking medical attention have been sentenced to six months in jail.
Dale and Leilani Neumann, of Wisconsin, could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison over the 2008 death of their daughter Madeline.
The 11-year-old died of an undiagnosed but treatable form of diabetes.
US Judge Vincent Howard ordered the couple to serve one month in jail each year for the next six years.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the Neumanns were also put on 10 years\' probation.
Prosecutors say the couple had recklessly killed the youngest of their four children by ignoring clear symptoms of severe illness as she became too weak to speak, eat, drink or walk.
In their defence, the parents said they believed healing came from God, and that they had not expected their daughter to die as they prayed for her.
The couple is appealing against the convictions.