The Court of Appeal in Belize has upheld the conviction and five-year prison sentence of Anke Doehm for the wilful neglect that led to the death of her 13-year-old adopted daughter, Faye Lin Cannon. In a judgment delivered today the Court of Appeal dismissed all 14 grounds of appeal, concluding that the original trial was fair and the sentence was not excessive given the gravity of the offense.
The prosecution's case detailed a harrowing period of neglect between January and July 2017, during which Faye was denied adequate nutrition and essential medical care. Medical experts testified that the teenager was severely malnourished, appearing to be the size of a nine-year-old, and suffered from untreated infections and internal injuries, including fractured ribs. Testimony from Faye's sister, Zoe, revealed that while Doehm and her husband ate prepared meals, the children were restricted to a repetitive diet of bread and sausages.
A critical point in the appeal involved Doehm's failure to seek professional medical help for Faye as her health deteriorated. Evidence showed that while Doehm traveled to Belize City multiple times a week for her own medical treatments, she performed "Reiki" healing rituals on her daughter instead of taking her to a doctor. The appellate judges noted that Doehm had the financial means to provide care, receiving over $5,000 USD monthly in maintenance for the children, yet she only called a doctor after Faye had already passed away on her bedroom floor.
The justices emphasized that a five-year sentence was appropriate, describing Doehm's culpability as very high and the harm caused by her neglect as very serious.