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The Associated Press
6/12/02 1:42 PM
TAUNTON, Mass. (AP) -- A religious sect leader charged with
starving his infant son to death testified Wednesday he believed a
miracle would save the boy.
Jacques Robidoux, whose father founded the sect known as "The
Body," is on trial for first-degree murder in the death of
1-year-old Samuel. He choked back tears as he described his son's
deteriorating heath over six weeks in 1999.
"His cry wasn't a normal baby's cry," Robidoux said. "He
ground his
teeth. Towards the end, he would often bite down on Karen's nipple.
At times, his eyes would roll up in the back of his head. His skin
on his chest changed to a dark color. He began getting a white,
chalky substance in his diaper."
The sect rejects modern medicine. Robidoux, who testified for three
hours Wednesday, said his wife was distraught and wanted to feed
the boy solid food but he wouldn't allow it, believing that would
have violated a prophesy from God.
"My reaction to it was that in order for me to be a good father and
good husband, it was my job to be strong in the situation and to
follow through on whatever it is that God was giving us at that
time," he said.
His attorney asked if he now feels it was a mistake.
"In that mindset," Robidoux replied, "I couldn't have made
any
other decision than I did because that's what was ingrained in my
head."
Robidoux's sister, Michelle Mingo, had received what they believed
was God's message.
"She had been reading the Bible and she had come across three
different scriptures -- one of them was Karen had pride and
foolishness, that she was vain because of the way she looked ...
and that God wasn't happy with that," he testified.
Mingo received what Robidoux said was a "leading" from God that
the
boy should receive only breast milk.
Prosecutors say the child starved over the next six weeks because
his mother had become pregnant again and stopped producing enough
milk.
Robidoux's attorney, Francis O'Boy, has said starvation may not
have killed the boy, that he could have died from a number of
ailments such as heart or liver failure, scurvy or rickets.
But Robidoux acknowledged under cross-examination that he realized
his son's health was deteriorating because of a lack of
nourishment.
Prosecutor Walter Shea asked Robidoux over and over whether he
sought medical attention for his son, or did anything to end his
starvation over the 51 days it took the boy to die. Robidoux said
he and other members of the group did nothing except pray for
Samuel.
On redirect, O'Boy asked: "Did you believe Samuel was going to
die?"
"No," Robidoux respond.
Robidoux acknowledged he never considered putting his sister's
vision on hold.
"The buck stops here, yes," he said.
The boy, who died three days before his first birthday, was found
buried next to an infant cousin in Baxter State Park in Maine.
His mother, Karen Robidoux, faces a separate trial on a
second-degree murder charge. Mingo also faces trial on a charge of
accessory to assault and battery on a child.
When O'Boy asked his reaction to his son's death, Robidoux replied:
"Stone cold."
O'Boy asked why. "I felt I had to be ... for my family," he
replied.
One defense witness was expected Thursday, followed by closing
arguments.
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