Exorcism death accused walks free 

Source: ONE NewsJanet Moses

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The trial of nine people for the killing of a relative during an exorcism has taken a dramatic twist.

One of the nine people accused of killing Janet Moses has walked free from court in Wellington.

The trial is wrapping up for the nine family members charged with the 22-year-old's manslaughter after she died during a curse lifting ceremony in Wainuiomata in October 2007.

Now one of the family members, Georgina Rawere, is no longer facing a manslaughter charge. Justice Simon France told her she is free to go as there is insufficient evidence to support the charge.

He hastened to tell the jury this means nothing at all in regard to the rest of the accused. The other eight members of her family still stand accused of manslaughter.

The nine people, including five aunts and an uncle, were charged with manslaughter after water poured on to Moses' face to lift a makutu, or curse, got into her lungs.

The accused believed Moses had become cursed after the theft of a lion statue from a Wairarapa pub.

The Crown on Monday finished presenting evidence in its five-week long case and is expected to sum up on Tuesday.

They said the family misinterpreted signs of an emerging mental illness and instead performed an exorcism.

"Janet was held down on the ground with considerable force by up to six people standing on her legs, holding her arms and legs down as she was thrashing about fighting for her life," said Grant Burston, Crown prosecutor.

"Members of Janet Moses' family became involved in what can best be described as group hysteria, where the nature and extremity of their thoughts, their feelings and their actions became more and more bizarre, and extreme."

The Crown says the accused are responsible for Moses' death, whether they helped to get the water, held her down or physically poured the water down her throat.

But the defence argue it was an act of love.

"They were not acting by anger, retribution, jealousy or punishment. Their actions were solely motivated by a loving desire to help and save their loved one, who wanted to be saved," says Paul Paino, defence lawyer.

The defence has called no witnesses yet. They will continue closing their case on Wednesday.