6 due in court over 'exorcism' death
2011-12-09 10:12
Port Elizabeth - Six people accused of killing a 7-year-old girl during a violent exorcism will appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Pastor Lonwabo Hamilton Tanda was granted bail of R3 000 last month on condition he leave Humansdorp and stay with family in Motherwell, in the Eastern Cape.
He was also not allowed to conduct any "deliverance" prayers.
Four of his congregants were granted bail of R3 000 each and were ordered not to conduct any exorcisms.
A fifth congregant was granted R1 000 bail on the same conditions.
The six are accused of killing the girl while praying for her two weeks ago.
Her parents and the church members had believed she was possessed and needed to be prayed for.
During the exorcism, they realised the girl needed medical attention and tried to take her to hospital, but she died on the way there.
On the night of her death, police found bruises on her body and noted that her eyes were swollen.
A post mortem showed that she had sustained internal injuries.
- SAPA