Father saw illness as a ‘test of his faith’

WAUSAU, Wis. — A Wisconsin man accused of killing his daughter by praying instead of seeking lifesaving medical help considered her illness “a test of his faith,” a prosecutor told jurors Saturday.

Dale Neumann, 47, is a “full-Gospel Christian,” who did not know his 11-year-old daughter had diabetes, his defense attorney said. There’s also not “a shred of evidence” Neumann knew his prayers would fail to help his daughter or cause her death, the lawyer said.

Neumann is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in the 2008 death of his daughter Madeline Neumann, called Kara by her parents. His wife, Leilani, was convicted of the same charge this spring and faces up to 25 years in prison when sentenced Oct. 6.

The girl died from undiagnosed diabetes March 23, 2008.

, surrounded by people praying at the family’s rural home in Weston in central Wisconsin.