Nine to stand trial over alleged exorcism death

Nine members of the extended family of 22-year-old Janet Moses are to stand trial in the High Court at Wellington, charged with her manslaughter during an alleged maketu, or curse-lifting, ceremony.

At a depositions hearing in Lower Hutt District Court today, lawyers for the nine defendants accepted there was a case to answer and they each pleaded not guilty.

Evidence in the form of 98 written statements and 40 exhibits was handed up to two Justices of the Peace.

Ms Moses is reported to have drowned during an apparent exorcism at her grandparents' home in Wainuiomata on October 12 last year while around 40 members of her family looked on.

- NZPA