- Image by stewils via Flickr
A court in Wellington, New Zealand, was told that a family drowned Janet Moses in an attempt to remove a makutu or curse from her.
All nine people charged with manslaughter, three men and six women, are members of Moses’ family.
Trouble began for Janet Moses when her sister stole a lion statue from a local pub. Janet started acting oddly and a kaumatua, a tribal elder, explained to the family she would continue to do so until the statue was returned.
However, even after the lion statue was returned to the pub Janet Moses continued to act strangely. The family came to believe that she had become possessed.
The family exorcism began with karakia, prayers and incantations, but became more intense with shouting and water being poured down Janet Moses’ throat and into her eyes.
The New Zealand court was told that her 14 year old cousin also had her eyes gouged during the exorcism and had water poured down her throat.
In Pure Spirit
This is a sad story. It seems all to clear that the family was trying to help. If you were the judge what would you rule?
Is it a good or bad that these traditional beliefs persist?
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