Kaling Wald, 50, pleaded guilty to failing
to notify police that her husband had died, an offense under the
provincial Coroner’s Act, and was sentenced on Monday to probation and
counseling, her lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday.
Peter Wald, 52, died in March 2013 of what authorities believe were
natural causes following a foot infection linked to his diabetes,
defense lawyer Peter Boushy said.His wife Kaling Wald left him in bed and sealed up the bedroom in their Hamilton, Ontario, home to prevent the odor of decomposition from disturbing the busy household, which included five of the couple’s six children, as well as other adults living in the home.
“Just as Jesus raised Lazarus
after the fourth day, so too did she believe God would resurrect her
husband in due time,” said Boushy. The family was active in Christian
street ministry and outreach in Hamilton, an industrial city about 70
kms southwest of Toronto.
“There clearly was an over-exuberance of one’s faith,” he added.The corpse was discovered in September 2013 when the local sheriff arrived to evict the family after they defaulted on the mortgage. It had attracted rodents and was badly decomposed, but the family had packed his things in preparation for the eviction and did not attempt to conceal the corpse.
The Children’s Aid Society investigated the family after the discovery of the corpse, but found no concerns and the case was closed, documents showed.
Boushy said his client now understands what the law required and would not do the same thing again.
“She certainly was remorseful,
and definitely was teary-eyed,” he said. “Indeed, she noted that she was
never actually able to cry over the passing of her husband, but this
seemed to have been an emotional breakthrough after the court
proceedings yesterday. I think counseling is certainly going to be
beneficial for her.”
Credit: Reuters
Comments