Wolverhampton – A Vapositori couple killed their 8 month old baby by denying her treatment saying they were following their church’s orders and requirements that prayer alone is enough.
Their baby died from rickets and pneumonia as a result of severe mal-nourishment.
Brian and Precious Kandare, aged 32 and 36, were jailed today (Tuesday 10 November) after pleading guilty to manslaughter for killing their eight-month old baby Rebecca. Brian Kandare was sentenced to nine and a half years and Precious Kandare was sentenced to eight years.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that paramedics were called to Park village in Wolverhampton on Monday 6 January 2014.
Rebecca was found to be suffering from extremely severe rickets and double pneumonia and doctors were unable to save her life.
A subsequent post-mortem investigation found that she was malnourished and weighed only 11lbs 11oz − just 4lbs heavier than her recorded weight two weeks after she was born on 22 April 2013.
The court was told that Brian and Precious had not sought medical care for Rebecca as they were members of the Apostolic Church of God which discourages parents from presenting children for conventional treatment.
As such Rebecca was never taken to see a doctor or nurse despite the post-mortem examination finding that she had reached critical levels of malnutrition two to three months before her death.
Rebecca relied completely upon the care of her parents in order to develop and thrive. Sadly this care was nowhere to be seen.
Rebecca’s condition would have been abundantly clear and medical investigations found that if she had been treated sooner she would most likely have survived.
By not seeking help her parents allowed her to become severely ill and she subsequently died.
A serious case review has been commissioned by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children board.