A jury has handed a manslaughter conviction to a Philadelphia couple whose 2-year-old son died after they prayed for his recovery from pneumonia rather than taking him to a doctor
Herbert Schaible, 42, and his wife Catherine, 41, were each found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child after the death of their two-year-old son Kent from bacterial pneumonia.
During a three-day trial, prosecutors said the couple, who belong to a fundamentalist church that teaches faith healing, put the boy to bed and prayed over him when he appeared to have a heavy cold, rather than taking him to a doctor. He died on January 24, 2009 after a two-week illness.
Defence attorneys argued during the trial at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas that the parents - who have seven other children - did not know their son was in danger of dying because the symptoms were no different from a common cold or flu.
But the jury of eight men and four women returned the unanimous verdict after deliberating for a day and a half.
Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said she was happy with the outcome of the "sad" case.
Pescatore said the verdict shows parents have a legal responsibility to care for and protect their children.
"It's not enough to pray for them," she said.
She said she may seek a requirement in the sentencing phase that the couple's seven other children are subject to regular monitoring by a pediatrician.
Bobby Hoof, an attorney for Herbert Schaible, said he had not decided whether to appeal the verdict.
The Schaibles had no visible reaction as the verdict was read, and made no comment as they left the court.
They will be sentenced on February 2.
They each face maximum prison terms of five to 10 years on the involuntary manslaughter conviction and three and a half to seven years on the child endangerment conviction.
Faith-healing couple convicted of manslaughter
A jury has handed a manslaughter conviction to a Philadelphia couple whose 2-year-old son died after they prayed for his recovery from pneumonia rather than taking him to a doctor
Herbert Schaible, 42, and his wife Catherine, 41, were each found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child after the death of their two-year-old son Kent from bacterial pneumonia.
During a three-day trial, prosecutors said the couple, who belong to a fundamentalist church that teaches faith healing, put the boy to bed and prayed over him when he appeared to have a heavy cold, rather than taking him to a doctor. He died on January 24, 2009 after a two-week illness.
Defence attorneys argued during the trial at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas that the parents - who have seven other children - did not know their son was in danger of dying because the symptoms were no different from a common cold or flu.
But the jury of eight men and four women returned the unanimous verdict after deliberating for a day and a half.
Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said she was happy with the outcome of the "sad" case.
Pescatore said the verdict shows parents have a legal responsibility to care for and protect their children.
"It's not enough to pray for them," she said.
She said she may seek a requirement in the sentencing phase that the couple's seven other children are subject to regular monitoring by a pediatrician.
Bobby Hoof, an attorney for Herbert Schaible, said he had not decided whether to appeal the verdict.
The Schaibles had no visible reaction as the verdict was read, and made no comment as they left the court.
They will be sentenced on February 2.
They each face maximum prison terms of five to 10 years on the involuntary manslaughter conviction and three and a half to seven years on the child endangerment conviction.
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