Pastor charged with manslaughter after man drowned during baptism
Yahoo • • world
Key Points:
- Pastor Cheryl Bartley, 48, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Robert Smith, 61, during a paddling pool baptism in Erdington, Birmingham, on October 8, 2023.
- Robert Smith, originally from Jamaica and suffering from Parkinson’s, died at the scene despite emergency services being called; he had sought a second baptism to become a “born-again believer.”
- The baptism ceremony was live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page but was cut short and later removed; Bartley later posted a video claiming to have seen Smith “dancing with Jesus” in heaven.
- Life Changing Ministries, led by Bartley, is a small Apostolic Church focused on spiritual healing and deliverance, with much of its activity conducted online, including weekly YouTube shows.
- Bartley is due to appear in Birmingham magistrates’ court on May 14, with the CPS emphasizing the importance of a fair trial and cautioning against prejudicial reporting or online commentary.
