The parents of a 15-year-old boy who died of starvation have been found guilty of first-degree murder.
Emil and Rodica Radita neglected their son Alexandru, who suffered from diabetes, for years before he eventually died from starvation.
He reportedly weighed less than 37 pounds when he died in 2013 at the family’s home in Calgary Canada.
The couple, who also had seven other children, reportedly refused to treat his diabetes and according to Judge Karen Horner, they “intended to and did isolate Alex from anyone who could intervene or monitor his insulin treatment aside from themselves,” reports The Independent.
“Alex died as a result of bacterial sepsis brought on by extreme starvation,” Justice Horner told the court during their trial.
“His physical condition at death was not a sudden or quick occurrence but rather took place over months and possibly, probably years.”
“The evidence underscores that the Raditas were well aware how ill Alex was and still refused to treat his medical condition with proper insulin protocol and medical care. They knew he was dying,” she added.
Witnesses during the trial claimed the couple refusd to accept their son’s condition. He was hospitalised in 2003 and moved into a foster home, where he “thrived” reports CTV.
He was removed from foster care after a year and returned to his family.
When paramedics were called the Radita’s home in 2013, one of the paramedics, Deborah Baumback, described the boy’s body as so emaciated it appeared “mummified”, reports 660 News.
His face had no visible flesh left and his left jaw had open sores so deep she could see his jawbone,” Judge Horner said during the trial.
“There was nothing left of his stomach as he was just so extraordinarily skinny. She estimated his waist line to be approximately three inches. He was dressed in a diaper and a T-shirt. His eyes were open. He was not breathing.”
The couple have been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
