Rennlhy Manuela sentenced to 23 years for son's death

An Antwerp court has sentenced Rennlhy Manuela to 23 years in prison for the murder of his 14-year-old son, Jairon. The verdict, delivered by a jury, exceeded the 20-year sentence requested by prosecutors.

In late 2021, Jairon contracted Covid-19. Manuela, a member of a strict Pentecostal sect, refused to seek medical intervention, instead relying on prayer, rest, and paracetamol. The boy died in early January 2022 in a villa in Turnhout, Belgium. His body was discovered by police eight weeks later in an advanced state of decomposition.

The court found that Manuela prioritized his radical religious beliefs over his child's life, effectively isolating the boy from his mother and siblings. While Manuela expressed some remorse during the trial, the jury upheld the murder conviction. Four other adults living in the household received suspended sentences ranging from one to three years.