Pair shunned care for baby

TWO members of an Oregon church that shuns medicine in favour of prayer and anointing the sick with oils have pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and criminal mistreatment in the death of their newborn daughter, who struggled to breathe for hours as family and friends prayed over her but did not seek medical care.

Sarah Mitchell and her husband, Travis Lee Mitchell, had originally been charged with murder by neglect and criminal mistreatment in the 2017 death of the premature baby.

They each were sentenced to almost seven years in prison, with credit for custody awaiting trial and good behaviour.