In the UK, a pastor is charged with manslaughter after a man died during a baptismal ceremony

In the UK, a 48-year-old woman «pastor» Cheryl Bartley will stand trial on charges of negligent manslaughter. The tragedy occurred during a baptismal rite in a private home, which resulted in the death of 61-year-old parishioner Robert Smith.

According to the publication LIFE, the deceased Robert Smith had lived in the United Kingdom for more than 25 years. The man, who worked as a hairdresser and had seven grandchildren, suffered from Parkinson’s disease. He had been a member of Life Changing Ministries Church for the past four years and decided to be re-baptized in the fall of 2023 to become a «born again believer.»

The ceremony itself took place in the backyard of an apartment building in a small kiddie pool. The process was streamed live on the church’s Facebook page, with about ten people watching in real time. At some point, the broadcast was interrupted and the video was later deleted. Medics who arrived on the scene were unable to save Smith — he was pronounced dead on the spot. The official cause of death was given as drowning.

Pastor Cheryl Bartley has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the incident. A court hearing in the case is due to take place in Birmingham in May this year.