Pastor due in court due to death at Baptism service
Court proceedings have begun in the case of Pastor Cheryl Bartley, 48, who is accused of gross negligence manslaughter (GNM) after Parkinson’s disease sufferer Robert Smith, 61, died during a baptismal service held in Erdington, Birmingham.
Pastor Bartley, Founder [JR1] of Life Changing Ministries, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates court on May 14 and did not enter a plea. The district judge David Wain told Bartley: “These matters are so serious they can only be held at a Crown Court.” She was released on bail, with conditions that she did not perform baptisms or leave the UK.
It is alleged that, during the baptism, which was held in an inflatable pool in a back garden, Smith was submerged in the water for four minutes. He had travelled up from Brixton, south London, to be baptised. His illness had left him with disabilities and difficulties walking.
Pastor Bartley is due back in court on June 19.
[JR1]removed ‘a Jamaican national’ as I don’t think it has any bearing on the story
