Boy 'tortured and drowned' over witchcraft claims, court told (UK)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Eric Bikubi and Magalie Bamu, both 28, killed 15-year-old Kristy Bamu in their east London flat after violently abusing him for several days, and repeatedly attacked the victim's two sisters, whom they accused of sorcery, the Old Bailey heard on the opening day of the trial.

Over four days Kristy, who was visiting his sister from France, was tortured with metal bars, wooden sticks, a hammer and a pair of pliers in a "prolonged attack of unspeakable savagery and brutality", the court was told.
...
On Christmas Day 2010 the defendants, who both deny murder, allegedly forced the boy and his siblings into a bath, submerging him in water. Pathologist reports revealed he suffered 101 injuries, and died as a result of drowning and the injuries.
...
The jury was told the belief in kindoki – the Lingala word for sorcery – was pervasive in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Expert witnesses in the trial would make clear there was "no provision in Congolese life and culture for the maltreatment and abuse of children", Altman said. "However, if the practice of kindoki is dislocated from the control of churches in the Congo, and the supervisory influence of religious leaders, then it may take on a feral and, indeed, evil character, as we suggest it did here."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/05/boy-tortured-drowned-sorcery-claims?newsfeed=true

That's a very strange comment from the prosecuting lawyer at the end. "No provision for maltreatment and abuse" - as if would be formally written down. And the idea that 'kindoki' is supervised by churches in Congo, and is fine there, but can be dangerous outside the country, seems very odd. I think this just shows that superstitious beliefs allow people to go beyond what normal society and behaviour would constrain them to.

An earlier case of abuse due to 'kindoki':
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4545109.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4609327.stm

[struggle4progress]

1. ... The youngsters had arrived from their home in Paris

to spend the festive season with the couple ...

In the living room, police found Kristy's brothers and sisters - brothers Yves, 22, and a 13-year-old, and sisters Kelly, 20, and an 11-year-old.

"All were standing in the living room, hysterical, terrified and soaking wet. None of them spoke any English. Both girls appeared to be injured," said Mr Altman.

Kelly said their holiday turned sour when Bikubi accused Kristy, herself and their younger sister of "being witches or sorcerers - practising witchcraft - and adversely influencing his three-year-old son" ...

Boy, 15, allegedly tortured and drowned by relatives over 'witchcraft' fears
By Mirror.co.uk 5/01/2012
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/05/boy-15-allegedly-tortured-and-drowned-by-relatives-over-witchcraft-fears-115875-23681827/

[struggle4progress]

2. ... Bikubi admits killing Kristy but claims he was paranoid schizophrenic at the time. Bamu also

denies assaulting her sister Kelly, then 20, and a younger sister.

Both the younger girls and Kristy's two brothers were found standing in the flat hysterical and terrified.

Kelly told police the six siblings had been sent to London from their home in Paris for Christmas in 2010. "The mood started to turn sour when Bikubi accused Kristy, Kelly and the younger sister of being sorcerers, practising witchcraft," said Mr Altman ...

Bikubi even rang the siblings' father Pierre in Paris and passed the phone to Kristy, who said Bikubi intended to kill him, the court heard.
"Tragically Mr Bamu did not appreciate the seriousness of Kristy's predicament," said Mr Altman ...

Boy 'tortured to death' for being a witch
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent
5 Jan 2012
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24025467-boy-killed-on-christmas-day-after-being-accused-of-witchcraft.do

[struggle4progress]

3. ... The trial heard how Kristy and four of his siblings were sent from Paris to London

by their parents on 16th December to spend the Christmas holidays with his older sister. Although the first few days passed without incident, Bikubi became convinced that Kristy and his siblings were witches who were having a malign influence on a younger child in the house ...

Prosecutors also allege that Bikubi and Bamu forced some of Kristy's siblings to take part in his ritualistic torture ...

Paramedics were called to the flat shortly after noon on Christmas Day where they found Bikubi attempting chest compressions on Kristy ...

Bikubi denies murder but has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility – a plea which has not been accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service. He has also pleaded guilty to the two assault charges. Bamu has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is expected to last five weeks.

Teenager 'murdered for practising witchcraft', court hears
Thursday 05 January 2012
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/teenager-murdered-for-practising-witchcraft-court-hears-6285243.html

[ZombieHorde]

4. So sad and disturbing. nt

[struggle4progress]

5. ... The court heard that a series of calls were made to the children's parents in Paris

during their four-day ordeal. One call on Christmas Eve lasted two and a half hours and between midnight and 7am on Christmas Day, 45 calls were made to Kristy's parents.

The court heard that in the early morning Bikubi told Kristy's father, Pierre Bamu, that he would kill his son if he was not collected. Told to speak to his father, Kristy reiterated the plea, saying: "Uncle Eric will kill me."

Pierre dismissed fears about the children because he could not imagine Bikunbi doing any harm to them, the court heard. But after the threat the couple tried, and failed, to get to London on Christmas Day. At about 8pm Pierre had a call from Kelly. "She told him, 'Dad, we are at the hospital, Kristy is dead', " said Altman ...

Boy 'tortured and drowned' over witchcraft claims, court told
Kristy Bamu, 15, was murdered by his sister and her partner because they believed he was practising sorcery, court told
Alexandra Topping
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 January 2012 10.54 EST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/05/boy-tortured-drowned-sorcery-claims?newsfeed=true