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7-month-old baby dies from malnutrition, parents risk 18 years in prison

Xinhua, May 18, 2017 Adjust font size:

A Belgian couple who only gave plant milk to their baby is now risking 18 years of imprisonment after their baby died from malnutrition at the age of 7 months, reported local media on Thursday.

In 2014, the couple decided without medical advice to feed their baby with plant milk for four months as they assumed he had gluten and lactose intolerance.

The baby died at the age of 7 months before the parents could reach the hospital. It was then established that the baby died from chronical malnutrition and dehydration.

For the prosecutor, Pascal Persoons, there is no doubt that the parents are entirely liable for their loss: "The parents have done nothing against the baby's emaciation. They just kept feeding him with plant milk repeatedly. Such a behavior must be sued", he said.

The parents strongly denied having deliberately refused to feed their baby, claiming they thought they were not doing anything wrong and did their best to take care of their baby.

"These people have absolutely never wished their baby dead. On the contrary, they really tried everything to feed their baby", said the lawyer of the parents.

The judgment has been planned for June 14, 2017. The defense will call for the acquittal of the parents. Endite