A Canadian woman was found guilty of failing to inform authorities of her husband's death for six months, as she had been praying fervently for his resurrection.
The body of Peter Wald, 52, was found on 17 September 2013, in a locked upstairs room at the family home in Hamilton, Ontario, by which time it had decomposed beyond recognition, the Hamilton Spectator reports.
His wife, Kaling Wald, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to notify the police or coroner, but the criminal charges associated with neglect of duty to a dead body, were dropped.
Assistant crown attorney Janet Booy said the woman's faith had "tainted and warped her better judgement" but acknowledged that she was not acting with malicious intent.
Peter Wald suffered from diabetes, but had not sought medical help as he believed he would be healed by God. He had a foot infection that had deteriorated without attention.
His wife said he went into a coma in late March, and he is thought to have died around March 20. After he died, she locked the door and sealed the room, telling friends who enquired after him that he was "in God's hands now".
His body was only found when the sheriff came to evict them for failing to meet their mortgage repayments.
Kaling Wald was given 18 months' probation with counselling from a Christian counsellor. Children's services investigated the case, as the Walds had six children between the age of 11 and 22, but no issues were raised and the case was closed, the National Post reports.
Her lawyer, Peter Boushy told the Post that she no longer believes her husband will come back from the dead.
"Her eyes welled up after the sentencing proceedings," Boushy said. "It was actually the first time she able to cry since her husband's passing. There seemed to be some type of emotional breakthrough after the sentence."
Before Peter Wald's death the family had often been involved in Christian mission in the town.
