A practitioner of “slapping therapy,” a controversial healing method, has been charged with the death of a woman at one of his workshops in England seven years ago.

According to Wiltshire Police, Hongchi Xiao has been accused of committing manslaughter due to gross negligence in the fatal incident of Danielle Carr-Gomm in October 2016.

In 2019, British authorities initially attempted to apprehend Xiao. However, he was taken into custody upon his extradition from Australia.

Xiao advocates for the use of paida lajin therapy, a practice in which individuals are repeatedly slapped, either by themselves or a practitioner, in order to purportedly release toxins from the body. This technique, derived from Chinese medicine, often results in patients experiencing bruises or bleeding. However, skeptics argue that there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness.

Xiao, who is originally from China and runs the California-based Pailala Institute, has led paida lajin workshops around the world.

Xiao was hosting a workshop at Cleeve House country hotel in western England when Carr-Gomm, aged 71, passed away.

Matthew, the son of Carr-Gomm, shared after her passing that she had tried different approaches to manage her diabetes due to a fear of needles which made it challenging for her to administer insulin injections.

“I am aware that she was determined to find a cure for her illness,” he stated. “She consistently prioritized a healthy lifestyle and was determined to not let anything hinder her from living a fulfilling life.”

Xiao, 60, is scheduled to make a court appearance in Salisbury, located in southwest England, on Friday, according to authorities.