Rebecca Kandare: Parents jailed for relying on 'supernatural healing powers' after baby dies of pneumonia

'It is highly unlikely that Rebecca would have died if she has been presented for medical care more than 24 hours before she collapsed'

Brian and Precious Kandare admitted to manslaughter (West Midlands Police)

The parents of an 8-month-old baby who died of pneumonia have been jailed for manslaughter, after they relied on "supernatural healing powers" instead of seeking urgent medical care.

Brian Kandare, 29, and Precious Kandare, 37, admitted to manslaughter of their daughter Rebecca after they gave their daughter to a church midwife three days before she died.

Rebecca was malnourished and had the worst cases of rickets one expert had seen in their 33-year medical career, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

She died at New Cross Hospital in January last year. She had no teeth and hardly any hair, with loose folds of skin suggesting she had lost weight.

The BBC reports Jonas Hakin QC, prosecuting, said: "It is highly unlikely that Rebecca would have died if she has been presented for medical care more than 24 hours before she collapsed.

"The stark reality of this case is that the defendants placed a higher value on adherence to the church's teachings than their daughter's welfare."

The couple attended the Apostolic Church of God in Wolverhampton, which had strict views on modern healthcare.

Members of the 20-strong congregation were encouraged to speak to the church's midwife with medical problems before seeking help. They could also be excluded from certain church activities if they went to a doctor without permission, according to the Express and Star.

Mr Hakin added: "Rebecca's death was a direct consequence of a prolonged course of wilful neglect, which involved a failure to provide an adequate supply of sufficiently nutritious food and denial of access to medical aid.

"The symptoms of wasting and malnutrition developed over time. The defendants' initial response was to eschew the help that was available to them from the NHS and voluntary organisations, relying instead on faith healing, ritual and the power of prayer."

After the couple admitted to manslaughter at court, Mr Kandare was jailed for nine and a half years and Mrs Kandare for eight.