A man has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of a woman who died while attending a slapping therapy workshop at a Wiltshire hotel.
Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, died at Cleeve House in Seend where she was taking part in a workshop to help her diabetes on October 20, 2016.
The workshop is understood to have involved paida lajin therapy, which sees patients being slapped or slapping themselves repeatedly.
Mrs Carr-Gomm, from Lewes, East Sussex, was previously said by her family to have embraced alternative and holistic medicine and therapies.
Hongchi Xiao, of Cloudbreak, California, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence during a short hearing at Winchester Crown Court.
The defendant, who wore a jumper and fleece for the hearing, was charged in November having been extradited to the UK from Australia.
Jessica Clarke, defending, told the court: “The deceased was an avid follower and ran her own courses of the practice.”
Judge Timothy Mousley KC adjourned the case for a four-week trial to start on June 26 with a further case management hearing to be held on February 8.
In the meantime, the defendant will remain in custody.
Read more: Healer in court after gran died during 'slapping therapy' workshop
In a statement released when he was charged, a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “Hongchi Xiao, 60, of Cloudbreak, California, returned to the United Kingdom from Australia on an extradition warrant and has been taken to Gablecross custody (unit) in Swindon where he was charged.
“This relates to the death of Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, at Cleeve House in Seend in October 2016.”
Mrs Carr-Gomm, who was born in France and moved to the UK aged 21, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999 and struggled to inject insulin due to a fear of needles.
Speaking after her death, her son Matthew Carr-Gomm, who lives in New Zealand, said the incident had come as a “huge shock” to the family.
He added: “She was always keen to try and find alternative methods of treating and dealing with her diabetes and was very interested in alternative and holistic medicine and therapies.
“I know she was desperate to try and cure herself of this disease.
“She always maintained a healthy lifestyle and was adamant that nothing would stop her from living a full life.
“In recent years, mum was in a great place with a partner, a lovely home, and was travelling the world.
“She had a lot of life left in her.”
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