Sentencing Deferred Again for Anke Doehm

Anke Doehm, who was found guilty of cruelty to a child on March 4 of this year, was to be handed down a sentence today, but that was further deferred.  Doehm is on remand at the Belize Central Prison and was brought to the Belize High Court today where she appeared before Justice Derick Sylvester.  In today’s proceedings, Justice Sylvester requested that both the Crown and the Defense submit written submissions concerning the sentencing guidelines.  Doehm appeared withdrawn as she exited the prison bus, and entered the side gate of the courthouse.  According to the defense, the 63-year-old American national has been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment in Mexico prior to the trial.  Her attorney, Adolph Lucas had pleaded to the court for bail, but that was denied.  It was ten days ago that Doehm was found guilty by a 9-member jury for being cruel to her foster child, 13-year-old, Faye Lin Cannon, between January 1 and July 3, 2017, in San Pedro Town.  The child was found to be malnutritioned and physically abused, resulting in her death.  Doehm’s husband, David was to stand trial as well, but he committed suicide shortly after the couple was arrested.