WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsJury finds Leilani Neumann guilty of 2nd degree reckless homicide
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MARATHON COUNTY (WAOW)--The Jury finds Leilanni Neumann guilty of second degree reckless homicide. She's the mother accused of praying over her daughter instead of taking her to doctor.
Her daughter, 11-year old Kara Neumann, died in 2008 after her diabetes went untreated.
During their closing arguments prosecutors argued the case isn't about the Neumann's religious practices. Instead they said it's about regulating those practices for the protection of society. They also said Kara might not have told her parents she was sick--because she was afraid she's get in trouble. "She had heard from her parents teachings that sickness was caused by sin," said Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad. "No wonder she didn't complain. Her parents would have thought she had sinned."
The defense flipped that around, saying none of the Neumann children complained because they were good kids. He also said the Neumann's are good parents who go above and beyond the call of parental duty and that includes taking their kids to the doctor. "Religious extremists don't take their kids to the doctor for shots," defense attorney Gene Linehan said. "They don't comply with school rules. Every one of the Neumann children had been to the doctor. This isn't religious extremism."
Neumann faces 25 years behind bars. Her sentencing date isn't set. Her husband, Dale Neumann, will head to court July 23rd for a separate trial.
Online Reporter: Katie Rosenberg
