A father has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the murder of his teenage son. Rennlhij Manuela was found guilty of the murder of 14-year-old Jairon on Friday and the verdict was handed down on Monday.
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Father jailed for 23 years for murder of Jairon, 14
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Four housemates and members of the same religious community were found guilty of withholding food and care and have been given suspended sentences of up to three years. One person was acquitted.
Jairon died at his father’s house in Turnhout on the night of 3 to 4 January 2022, having been seriously ill for weeks. It was only eight weeks later that the police found him in bed, with traces of ketamine later found in his body. His mother tried repeatedly to contact her son during that time but was always told he was out, ill, at the sports club, or his phone was broken.
Manuela and five other accused individuals were all living in the villa in Turnhout at the time of Jairon’s death. They stated that the boy had fallen ill and that they thought he would recover with a healthy diet, painkillers and plenty of rest. They did not seek medical help. After his death, they believed God would bring him back to life.
In the judgement, the presiding judge said the offences committed by Manuela were extremely serious and demonstrated a lack of moral judgement. The court and the jury saw no mitigating circumstances.
“Rennlhij Manuela attempted to isolate his children from their mother to a great extent and indoctrinated them with his fanatical religious beliefs,” she said. “For him, his child’s life was secondary to his blind faith. He caused irreparable suffering to his mother and brothers, whom he prevented from saying a dignified farewell.”
His child’s life was secondary to his blind faith. He caused irreparable suffering to his mother and brothers
The public prosecutor had called for 20 years’ imprisonment, while the defence argued for five years. In assessing guilt, too, the jury was stricter than the public prosecutor, which saw no evidence of murder. Jairon’s family had argued for a murder conviction.
“It was an exhausting process, so we’re now immensely relieved,” said Danica, Jairon’s mother. “We’re satisfied with the sentence. The jury’s common sense and the chair’s knowledge of the case have ensured that justice has been done. A weight has been lifted from our shoulders.”
Why is VRT publishing the name and photograph of the perpetrator?
VRT is reluctant to name or otherwise identify suspects or convicted offenders. The case must involve very serious offences, where guilt has been established or where a suspect or perpetrator has come forward publicly themselves.
We always seek to strike a balance between the privacy of the suspects and the public’s need for information. As Rennlhij Manuela has now been convicted of murder and sentenced to a long prison term, we have decided to identify him.