Little girl accused of witchcraft

by Feòrag

England: An Old Baily jury has been told that an eight-year-old girl was tortured, and an attempt on her life was in progress when the attack was stopped. The alleged motive was that another child had said that the girl was a witch.

The girl, an Angolan refugee, came to the UK to live with relatives after her parents were killed in the war there.

[Prosecutor Patricia May] told the court the aunt and Ms Kisanga put the girl in a laundry bag, zipped it up and were about to throw it into the New River in Hackney, east London, until Mr Pinto stopped them.

Miss May said Mr Pinto told them: If they did and it was discovered, the law and the rights of children in this country being what they were, they would go to prison.

A search of the house of one of the accused revealed a number of (presuambly Christian) documents on sin, the devil and witchcraft and a diary, one entry including the sentence There was indeed a prophesy she has ndoki (the Lingala word for witchcraft).

The trial has been halted temporarily after the girl became upset and started to cry during the presentation of video evidence. It is due to resume tomorrow.

Witchcraft case halted over tears - BBC News, 10th May 2005; Girl tortured 'for being a witch' - BBC News, 9th May 2005.