Crucifixion: Monk, nuns charged
2005-06-23 13:51
Bucharest - A Romanian monk and four nuns have been indicted on charges of aggravated murder after a nun died during an exorcism ritual in which she was crucified and left without food for three days, said a prosecutor on Thursday.
Daniel Petre Corogeanu and four nuns were indicted late on Wednesday on the murder charges and of depriving a person of liberty after testifying to prosecutors.
Prosecutor Ovidiu Berinde by telephone they had been detained by police.
He said a court was due to decide later on Thursday whether to issue a 30-day detention order. If found guilty, they could face a 25-year sentence.
On Sunday, the five were indicted in connection with causing the nun's death, but were not detained, pending the results of a second autopsy.
Church suspends Corogeanu
The 23-year-old nun, Maricica Irina Cornici, died last week in the Holy Trinity convent in northeast Romania after she was allegedly bound to a cross, had a towel stuffed into her mouth and left without food for three days.
The church had suspended Corogeanu and Romanian Orthodox Church had closed the convent.
There were angry scenes outside the prosecutor's office on Wednesday in the northeastern city of Vaslui, with some people supporting the monk and nuns, and others calling for them to be convicted.
The case had caused outrage in Romania. Corogeanu, 29, had appeared to be defiant.
When he performed a funeral service for the dead nun on Sunday, he said he was trying to take the devils out of the woman.
When asked whether the nun was mentally ill and in need of medical help instead of exorcism, he responded: "You can't take the devil out of people with pills. You cure possession by the devils with fasting and prayer."
He added the nun had to be restrained because she was violent, but denied that she was starved.
- SAPA