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."
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