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| Parents jailed over rickets baby death | Parents jailed over rickets baby death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The parents of a five-month-old boy who died from acute rickets have been jailed for manslaughter. | The parents of a five-month-old boy who died from acute rickets have been jailed for manslaughter. |
| Nkosiyapha Kunene, 36, and Virginia Kunene, 32, of Erith, south-east London, were sentenced to three and two years in prison respectively. | Nkosiyapha Kunene, 36, and Virginia Kunene, 32, of Erith, south-east London, were sentenced to three and two years in prison respectively. |
| Their son Ndingeko Kunene died in 2012 from the bone condition which is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. | Their son Ndingeko Kunene died in 2012 from the bone condition which is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. |
| The Old Bailey heard the boy's medical care was neglected because of his parents religious beliefs. | The Old Bailey heard the boy's medical care was neglected because of his parents religious beliefs. |
| Richard Whittam QC for the prosecution told the court the couple's beliefs arose out of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which does approve of medical care. | Richard Whittam QC for the prosecution told the court the couple's beliefs arose out of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which does approve of medical care. |
| However, an overarching belief held principally by Nkosiyapha was that there was a God in heaven who would guide the family when it came to any matter that affected life. | However, an overarching belief held principally by Nkosiyapha was that there was a God in heaven who would guide the family when it came to any matter that affected life. |
| Mr Whittam said: "There is no suggestion of any ill treatment in the conventional way of neglect or cruelty, it is a neglect to seek proper medical care and then to call medical care at the end. | Mr Whittam said: "There is no suggestion of any ill treatment in the conventional way of neglect or cruelty, it is a neglect to seek proper medical care and then to call medical care at the end. |
| "There was, throughout the better part of pregnancy and into early life, a rejection of either medical advice or advice from relatives to seek medical advice." | "There was, throughout the better part of pregnancy and into early life, a rejection of either medical advice or advice from relatives to seek medical advice." |
| The court heard that Nkosiyapha was baptised into the church in 2000 and in 2009 was recommended to be a delegate to its South England Conference. | The court heard that Nkosiyapha was baptised into the church in 2000 and in 2009 was recommended to be a delegate to its South England Conference. |
| It was also heard that he worked as a nurse at King's College Hospital and did not reject medical treatment outright, but believed medicines were given to patients without much thought as to whether they were appropriate for their condition or not. | It was also heard that he worked as a nurse at King's College Hospital and did not reject medical treatment outright, but believed medicines were given to patients without much thought as to whether they were appropriate for their condition or not. |
| Kerim Fuad QC, defending Nkosiyapha, said: "The loss of their son haunts them, and will do, for the rest of their lives. | Kerim Fuad QC, defending Nkosiyapha, said: "The loss of their son haunts them, and will do, for the rest of their lives. |
| "The covenant he had sworn with God blinded his objectivity and common sense." | "The covenant he had sworn with God blinded his objectivity and common sense." |
| Mr Fuad told the court the baby was discharged from the hospital at Darent Valley without his mother being given Vitamin D who, as a vegan, would have been more susceptible to a vitamin deficiency. | |
| He said had the Vitamin D deficiency been diagnosed, the parents would have been alert to the need to be vigilant, but the Vitamin D levels were not tested until after the child's death. | He said had the Vitamin D deficiency been diagnosed, the parents would have been alert to the need to be vigilant, but the Vitamin D levels were not tested until after the child's death. |
| Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, defending Virginia Kunene, said: "She has confronted the reality that she failed the child, by virtue of her view that it would be a breach of a covenant made between her, her husband and their God, and an abandonment of her sincerely-held religious views." | Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, defending Virginia Kunene, said: "She has confronted the reality that she failed the child, by virtue of her view that it would be a breach of a covenant made between her, her husband and their God, and an abandonment of her sincerely-held religious views." |
| Mr Justice Singh at the Old Bailey said: "The law respects the right of everyone to freedom of thought and belief. | Mr Justice Singh at the Old Bailey said: "The law respects the right of everyone to freedom of thought and belief. |
| "However the right to manifest one's religion is not absolute. It is limited in particular by the rights of others. | "However the right to manifest one's religion is not absolute. It is limited in particular by the rights of others. |
| "The state has a particularly important duty to protect the right to life, especially when a young child is concerned." | "The state has a particularly important duty to protect the right to life, especially when a young child is concerned." |