Trial Begins in Girl's Faith-Healing Death

(CBS/AP)  Opening statements began Saturday in the trial of a father charged with second-degree reckless homicide for praying instead of seeking medical help for his gravely ill 11-year-old daughter.

Dale Neumann's wife, Leilani, was convicted of the same charge this spring in the 2008 death of Madeline Neumann, called Kara by her parents.

The girl died from undiagnosed diabetes on March 23, 2008, surrounded by people praying at the family's rural home in Weston in central Wisconsin. Someone called the emergency dispatcher when she stopped breathing.

Leilani Neumann, 41, faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced Oct. 6.

Prosecutors contend Dale Neumann, 47, recklessly killed the youngest of his four children by ignoring her deteriorating health. They claim the girl was too weak to speak, eat, drink or walk and that Neumann had a legal duty to take her to a doctor.

Dale Neumann's attorney said Friday, when an eight-man, six-woman jury was picked to hear the case, that he didn't know whether the father would testify in his own defense.

"It would be just a guess right now," attorney Jay Kronenwetter said. "It's the defendant's right. Who knows how the trial goes?"

CBS Affiliate WSAW reports that before Saturday's opening statements got underway, a judge denied the defense's motion to allow a faith healer to testify as an expert witness.

Assistant District Attorney Lance Leonard said during his statement that Kara had a chance to live up until the time 911 was finally called, and that on the morning of her death, Kara had a 98% chance of survival had she received medical treatment.

The prosecutor also said that the girl suffered greatly before her death.

Defense attorney Jay Kronenwetter opened his statement by reminding the jury that they haven't yet heard any evidence. He did say that Neuman did take action to save his daughter, by calling family and friends and asking them to pray.

An Oregon jury on Thursday convicted a father of misdemeanor criminal mistreatment for relying on prayer instead of seeking medical care for his 15-month-old daughter who died of pneumonia and a blood infection in March 2008. The father and mother were acquitted of a more serious manslaughter charge.

In the Wisconsin case, Assistant District Attorney LaMont Jacobson said Neumann's trial likely won't differ much from his wife's.

Doctors testified at the first trial that Madeline's gradually declining health would have gotten acute three or four days before she died as her body began shutting down. But despite being unresponsive and in a coma, the girl could have been saved very late into the day of her death with the proper treatment, the doctors said.

Leilani Neumann said during videotaped testimony that the family believes the Bible says healing comes from God and that she never expected her daughter to die. The Neumanns said the girl had not been to a doctor since she was 3.

A criminal complaint said Dale Neumann told police he believed God would heal his daughter right up until she stopped breathing. He also "professed to believe God was going to bring Madeline back to life."

The Neumanns have said the family does not belong to an organized religion.

[Illuminated1]

There is no God. When are you sheep going to realize that?
Prayer is little more than wishful thinking.
The girl would have been saved by medical science.
The problem she had was treatable and often without pain.

The missing link which has been said would revolutionize the relationship of religion on mankind has been found.
The day is finally here, the day creationists have dreaded.
Scientific study has been performed it.
The researcher named the missing link "Ida"
It has proven evolution, changing religion forever.
It has been a long battle, the battle between faith (control) and science {facts}....proving we have evolved from creatures long ago on this planet.

[nursemark-2009]

There is the story of the man on the roof of his house as a flood was happening. He prayed to God to save him.

Shortly afterward a Hummer came by through the flooded streets. They offered to take him to safety. He refused, saying God will save me.

He continued to pray and then a boat came by and they offered to take him to safety. But refused saying God will save me.

Later as the water rose higher a helicopter came by offering to take him up with them.. But again he refused saying God will save me.

The water rose so high he drown. When he went to heaven he asked God why He did not save him when he asked for help. God looked at him and said "What did you want I sent you a hummer, a boat and a helicopter?"

In the same way people like these are so set on what they think that God will do, (or want Him to do), that they miss what He is offering them. Thie prayers would have been answered if the had gone to the doctor. They tried to put God in a box, and have Him preform in the way they wanted instead of letting God be God.

Luke who wrote two books of the Bible was a doctor. No one ever said that he was anything less than stand up guy for God . God hold doctors in high regard, or He wouldn't allow one to tell Jesus's story. Want a miracle happen? See you doctor!

Mark
Master of Divinity

[AttentionDeficit]

Maybe the defense can call Jesus...can I get a witness?

[xxxtobymac]

I do not agree with calling other religions a cult. Just because it differs from the norm. As Americans we have our right to our beleifs or religions whatever it may be. Who are we to judge. Just becuase some of the religions don't believe in jesus or god, (like me, I am of Wiccan Faith) should we be persecuted because of our faith. Just becuse some people don't belive in society's ways of doing things don't mean there wrong. OK so they could have saved her if they got her medical treatment. Now I don't know the rules or beliefs of this certinan religion, but I know some faiths abosoulty do not believe in using modern day medicine, some religions find this to be unholy and if used cannot assend into there target "heaven". So if anybody's at fault it is society.

[woeisme1]

Boy you are one pathetic individual. All you really said there was that you believe in situational ethics. That everything goes because it is your right. Nobody should judge another.

You don't need to worry about becoming persecuted...you are already being persecuted.

[formrusmcsgt]

The difference between a cult and a religion is the number of gullibles who subscribe to it.

[billpl-2009]

...so much for "right to life"

[searingtruth]

"Reality is the heaviest of burdens."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[imredeemed-2009]

I always find it amazing that the same doctors that we are to take our children to in order to be healed are the same doctors who murder them in the womb and call it a choice. The same government that convicts a parent for not taking their child to the doctors, also gives that doctor the "right" to kill their child, as long as the head of that child isn't totally out of the mother's womb. Seems like they better make up their minds whether or not they want to heal kids or kill them, because right now the government and the doctors are responsible for both. I'm not saying I agree with what has happened just that doctors and government can swing either way, so if they can make the choice whether or not to heal or kill a child, why wouldn't a parent have the same right, no matter what age. Hypocracy at it's best!

[searingtruth]

And I always find it amazing that so many who claim to care so much for unborn children couldn't care less about them after they're born.

Let's hope we can all one day reach a reasonable compromise, such as allowing the abortion of zygotes, and equal protection for all children thereafter.
ST


"It has been my experience that those most concerned with the morality of others adhere to a lesser morality within themselves."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[rwsmith29456]

And furthermore... Diabetes doesn't kill overnight. Left untreated you get sicker and sicker with multitudinous symptoms. How long was this poor child sick? It also says they called the emergency room AFTER she stopped breathing. Holy Toledo.

[rwsmith29456]

A great time to pray would be on the way to the hospital. NOTHING in the Bible says to avoid doctors. It DOES say that some people had seen doctors but were not helped for their particular ailments, like the women who had bleeding. Jesus healed physical ailments as a sign but was here more to heal sin-sick souls because the people he physically healed ultimately died in body.

[searingtruth]

I'm not religious, but have no prejudice against those who choose to believe differently.

In fact, most of the religious people I know are very good people, and despite what I perceive as an illogical belief in an extraordinary power, are quite logical and realistic. There are exceptions, but I have found them not to be the rule.

And for those who claim that religion is the cause of all, or most, war and unjustified death, I would beg to differ.

History shows that there have been far more wars fought in the name of nationalism and other illogical beliefs than religion itself, although religion is always a ready and convenient excuse.

This parent should simply be tried for murder, as any criminal who claims "something else" made them do it.
ST


"Do not carelessly take the hope of others my friends. We all derive that most precious gift from so many different sources. From deep within ourselves, from belief in good and benevolent supernatural forces, from belief in ordered and ultimately just natural forces, and from a plethora of other deeply held and personal beliefs uncounted. Our fight is not with hope fellow citizens, it is with intolerance, despair, suffering, and death.

In fact, we need not fear the beliefs of others, only their imposition upon us."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[glidescube]

If faith alone cant fix my washing machine what chance does a little girl have?

[formrusmcsgt]

Nice.