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'Witchcraft torture' trial: Magalie Bamu cries in court | 'Witchcraft torture' trial: Magalie Bamu cries in court |
(40 minutes later) | |
A woman charged with murdering her 15-year-old brother, who was accused of using witchcraft, has broken down in court. | A woman charged with murdering her 15-year-old brother, who was accused of using witchcraft, has broken down in court. |
Magalie Bamu sobbed as she told the Old Bailey she was forced by her boyfriend, Eric Bikubi, to start hitting her siblings, including her brother Kristy. | Magalie Bamu sobbed as she told the Old Bailey she was forced by her boyfriend, Eric Bikubi, to start hitting her siblings, including her brother Kristy. |
Kristy drowned on Christmas Day 2010 during an exorcism, the jury has heard. | Kristy drowned on Christmas Day 2010 during an exorcism, the jury has heard. |
Mr Bikubi and Ms Bamu, both 28 from Newham, east London, deny murder. | Mr Bikubi and Ms Bamu, both 28 from Newham, east London, deny murder. |
At the beginning of her defence, Ms Bamu was asked to describe the events in the run up to the death, at which point she cried out: "I don't know how it can come to this point". | At the beginning of her defence, Ms Bamu was asked to describe the events in the run up to the death, at which point she cried out: "I don't know how it can come to this point". |
The judge told her to take a few minutes to calm down. | The judge told her to take a few minutes to calm down. |
She then told the jury how her boyfriend started assaulting her siblings, after he accused them of using witchcraft. | She then told the jury how her boyfriend started assaulting her siblings, after he accused them of using witchcraft. |
He was punching them and hitting them with a length of wood, the court heard. | |
Ms Bamu told the jury he then forced her to join in and slap the children. | Ms Bamu told the jury he then forced her to join in and slap the children. |
Asked how she felt she said: "I couldn't do anything I was so scared, I was petrified ...I've never seen Eric like this before". | Asked how she felt she said: "I couldn't do anything I was so scared, I was petrified ...I've never seen Eric like this before". |
Mr Bikubi has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, which the prosecution has rejected. | Mr Bikubi has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, which the prosecution has rejected. |
Kristy and his siblings were visiting the couple for Christmas. | Kristy and his siblings were visiting the couple for Christmas. |
All three were beaten and other children were forced to join in the attacks, the jury has been told. | All three were beaten and other children were forced to join in the attacks, the jury has been told. |
But it was Kristy who became the focus of Mr Bikubi's attention, the prosecution said. | But it was Kristy who became the focus of Mr Bikubi's attention, the prosecution said. |
Jurors were told Kristy died when he was "too exhausted" to resist and keep his head above water when Mr Bikubi put him in a bath. | Jurors were told Kristy died when he was "too exhausted" to resist and keep his head above water when Mr Bikubi put him in a bath. |
Mr Bikubi has admitted assaulting Kristy's siblings. | Mr Bikubi has admitted assaulting Kristy's siblings. |
Ms Bamu also denies two charges of causing actual bodily harm to her other siblings. | Ms Bamu also denies two charges of causing actual bodily harm to her other siblings. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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