http://randi.org/jr/101201.html

Ten-year-old Candace Newmaker, from North Carolina, was suffocated during an April 18, 2000, "rebirthing therapy" session intended to treat an "attachment disorder." Her parents took her to the unlicensed "psychotherapy" practice, where the attendants wrapped her in blankets and sat on her until she smothered to death. Two of them were sentenced recently by County District Judge Jane Tidball to 10 years probation and 1,000 hours community service. Their attorneys said their clients were only assistants, with no expertise, who were "just following orders."

The couple, who are married, pleaded guilty in August of this year to negligent child abuse resulting in death. Judge Tidball said, "The defendants simply did what they were told to do." Well, Judge, the Nürnberg trials back in 1945-46 didn't have much of a lesson for you, did they? These people in your state, sat on a screaming, terrified, child, gasping for breath and begging for release, they heard her tell them she was dying, and they simply "did what they were told to do."

Until she died. Adolf Eichmann had that call to duty, too. So did dozens of the Nazi butchers. They were doing what they were told to do.

Incredible.

As the District Attorney pointed out to the Judge, the death of this child was not only a tragedy, but a crime. "Attachment Therapy" is a currently popular quackery that exhibits a callous and careless attitude toward the victim. A representative of the Attachment Therapy community explained to Judge Tidball that they get so used to attempts by children to control them with physical complaints that they become "immune" to them. "Complaints"? Candace, as recorded in a 2-hour videotape, screamed and shrieked in terrified agony, and her long, agonizing death, during which she was insulted, belittled, and teased, induced in her such panic, that with her bare feet she actually kicked a large rip in the new flannel sheet in which she had been wrapped.

She was, after all, being murdered.

One of the defendants had her back against Candace's feet, and was in a position to tell the others of Candace's vigorous efforts, but she didn't. Another witness testified about years of inhuman treatment, involving pain, isolation, deprivation and degradation at this same "therapist's" hands. It was also pointed out that the defendants had lied to investigators about the "rebirthing," saying that Candace never complained of distress. A blatant lie, so proved by the playing of the graphic videotape to the court — and to the Judge, who then allowed probation and community service.

For murder.

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