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Witchcraft murder: Couple guilty of Kristy Bamu killing Witchcraft murder: Couple guilty of Kristy Bamu killing
(40 minutes later)
A couple have been found guilty of murdering a teenager they had accused of using witchcraft.A couple have been found guilty of murdering a teenager they had accused of using witchcraft.
Eric Bikubi and Magalie Bamu, both 28 from Newham, east London, had denied killing Bamu's 15-year-old brother Kristy. Eric Bikubi, 28, and Magalie Bamu, 29, from Newham, east London, had denied killing Bamu's 15-year-old brother Kristy.
Kristy drowned in a bath on Christmas Day in 2010, during torture to produce exorcism, an Old Bailey jury heard.Kristy drowned in a bath on Christmas Day in 2010, during torture to produce exorcism, an Old Bailey jury heard.
Bikubi had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but the prosecution rejected his plea.Bikubi had admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but the prosecution rejected his plea.
The pair, who were remanded in custody, are due to be sentenced on Monday.The pair, who were remanded in custody, are due to be sentenced on Monday.
Kristy was killed while he and two siblings were visiting the couple for Christmas, the court was told. The family of the murdered teenager said that they had "forgiven" his killers.
'Deliverance' ceremony A family statement, read out in court by prosecutor Brian Altman QC, said: "We will never forget, but to put our lives back into sync we must forgive.
Bikubi had beaten all three after accusing them of witchcraft and other children were forced to join in with the attacks, the jury heard. "We take no comfort in the verdicts - we have been robbed of a beloved son, a daughter, a son-in-law.
But it was Kristy who became the focus of Bikubi's attention, the prosecution said. "Kristy died in unimaginable circumstances at the hands of people who he loved and trusted. People who we all loved and trusted."
Judge David Paget, who was presiding over his last trial before retiring, told the jury of seven women and five men that the case was so "harrowing" he was exempting them from jury service for the rest of their lives.
'Begged to die'
"It is a case we will all remember," he told them. "Court staff will speak to you and offer help to you."
During the trial, jurors heard Kristy was in such pain after three days of being attacked with knives, sticks, metal bars, a hammer and chisel that he "begged to die", before slipping under the water.During the trial, jurors heard Kristy was in such pain after three days of being attacked with knives, sticks, metal bars, a hammer and chisel that he "begged to die", before slipping under the water.
Kristy had been killed while he and his siblings were visiting Bikubi and Magalie Bamu for Christmas, the court was told.
During the stay, Bikubi turned on them, accusing them of bringing "kindoki" - or witchcraft - into his home.
He then beat all three of them and forced other children to join in with the attacks, the jury heard.
But it was Kristy who became the focus of the defendant's attention, the prosecution said.
Bamu and Bikubi believed he had cast spells on another child in the family, the Old Bailey heard.Bamu and Bikubi believed he had cast spells on another child in the family, the Old Bailey heard.
He had refused to admit to sorcery and witchcraft and his punishments, in a "deliverance" ceremony, became more horrendous. Kristy had refused to admit to sorcery and witchcraft and his punishments, in a "deliverance" ceremony, became more horrendous.
The defence had argued Bikubi was mentally ill when he carried out the killing, with a scan of his brain showing lesions which "probably contributed to an abnormal mental state".The defence had argued Bikubi was mentally ill when he carried out the killing, with a scan of his brain showing lesions which "probably contributed to an abnormal mental state".
However, the prosecution had rejected this as a plea to reduce the charge against him.