05/03/2012

Couple Accused Of Witchcraft Killing Jailed For Life

The couple that murdered a teenage boy they accused of using witchcraft have been jailed for life.

Fifteen-year-old Kristy Bamu and four of his siblings were visiting his sister Magalie Bamu, 29, and her partner Eric Bikubi, 28, when he was killed.

It is understood that Kristy drowned in a bath during an exorcism at the couple’s flat in Newham in East London.

Bikubi has been sentenced to 30 years in jail while Kristy’s sister has been sentenced to 25 years.

Kristy in total suffered 130 injuries before drowning in the bath on Christmas Day two years ago and the judge presiding over the trial said that the murder had a "sadistic element".

However, he judge also said he accepted Bikubi's defence that he had brain damage and had believed that Kristy was a witch.

But he also concluded that: "The belief in witchcraft, however genuine, cannot excuse an assault to another person, let alone the killing of another human being."

(LB/GK)

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