Woman died at slapping therapy workshop after stopping insulin, court told

A woman with diabetes who died after stopping her insulin while taking part in a four-day slapping therapy workshop regarded the person who ran the retreat as a “messenger sent by God”, a jury has heard.

Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, wrote glowing testimonials about Hongchi Xiao saying she believed he was starting a revolution in healthcare, Winchester crown court was told.

Xiao allegedly congratulated Carr-Gomm when she announced she had stopped taking insulin at the start of the four-day workshop, attended by “keen disciples” of his methods, at Cleeve House, a country manor in Wiltshire.

When Carr-Gomm fell seriously ill because she had not taken her insulin, Xiao allegedly told other participants that she was experiencing the “darkness before dawn breaks” and did not call for medical help.

Xiao, 61, of Cloudbreak in California, denies the manslaughter by gross negligence of Carr-Gomm, from Lewes in East Sussex.

Duncan Atkinson KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Carr-Gomm had sought alternatives to her insulin because she was a vegetarian and had a fear of needles.

She was one of 30 people who attended the workshop in October 2016 run by “Master Xiao”, a champion of paida lajin therapy, in which patients are slapped or slap themselves repeatedly.

Atkinson said Carr-Gomm previously attended a workshop of Xiao’s in Bulgaria and, though she became unwell there, left testimonials on his website in which she said he was “definitely” a “messenger sent by God” and that he was “starting a revolution … to put the power back in the hands of the people to cure themselves and to change the whole system of healthcare”. She added: “I admire you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The jury heard that participants in the workshop fasted and drank only Chinese tea. At classes, Xiao allegedly slapped them using his hand and a paddle.

Carr-Gomm is said to have stopped taking insulin on Monday 17 October. Over the coming days she became unwell and was heard crying and howling in pain.

The jury was told that in a book Xiao has written he suggests someone may appear to be ill but this is in fact toxins leaving the body during a “healing crisis”.

Paramedics were called at 2.54am on 20 October. Atkinson said Carr-Gomm was found lying on a mattress on the floor of her room and was confirmed dead at 3.11am.

Atkinson claimed Xiao owed Carr-Gomm a duty of care. “He knew of his influence over her, he knew the consequences of her not taking her insulin.”

The court has heard that Xiao was convicted of manslaughter in Australia after a six-year-old boy with diabetes stopped taking insulin allegedly under his instruction and died about 17 months before Carr-Gomm’s death. He is said to have told participants in Australia there was “no pain, no gain”.

Charles Row KC, defending Xiao, told the jury the defendant denied having a duty of care and had made it “absolutely clear” to Carr-Gomm that he was not medically trained.

Row said Xiao had told her not to suddenly stop taking her insulin. He added: “The defendant’s case is that Danielle Carr-Gomm was a law unto herself, a strong, driven and independent woman.”

The trial continues.