‘Healer’, 60, denies killing diabetic gran, 71, during ‘slapping therapy’ workshop at posh country hotel
A “HEALER” has denied killing a diabetic gran during a “slapping therapy” workshop at a posh country hotel.
Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, was practising the paida lajin technique, which involves patients being repeatedly slapped or slapping themselves, when the horror unfolded.
Hongchi Xiao appeared at Winchester Crown Court today where he denied manslaughter by gross negligence.
The 60-year-old, from California, was charged after he was extradited to the UK from Australia.
Jessica Clarke, defending, told the court: “The deceased was an avid follower and ran her own courses of the practice.”
Xiao was remanded into custody to next appear on February 8.
A four-week provisional trial was set for June 26 at the same court.
Danielle visited Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, on October 20, 2016, for the “self-healing” workshop.
The diabetes sufferer had embraced alternative and holistic medicines for the disease after she was diagnosed in 1999.
Danielle had struggled to inject insulin due to a fear of needles so attended the week-long workshop.
The name paida lajin derives from the Mandarin words for slapping the skin, while “lajin” is about adopting muscle-stretching postures.
It is linked to the traditional Chinese medicine concept of “sha” – an idea that blood is poisoned by toxins and needs to be expelled.
But the method has been criticised for having no scientific basis.
Xiao is a self-styled “healer” and founded the Pailala Institute in California, which sells hand-shaped “slapper” implements.
A warrant for his arrest was issued in October 2019.
Speaking after her death, Danielle’s son Matthew Carr-Gomm said: “She was always keen to try and find alternative methods of treating and dealing with her diabetes and was very interested in alternative and holistic medicine and therapies.
“I know she was desperate to try and cure herself of this disease. She always maintained a healthy lifestyle and was adamant that nothing would stop her from living a full life.
“In recent years, mum was in a great place with a partner, a lovely home, and was travelling the world.”