A pastor from the UK faces manslaughter charges following the tragic drowning of a grandfather during a home baptism ceremony. Allegedly, she recorded a video claiming she witnessed him “dancing with Jesus.”
The incident involved Cheryl Bartley, 48, who live-streamed the October 2023 baptism of Robert Smith, 61, on her Life Changing Ministries’ Facebook page, as reported by the Telegraph.
The broadcast abruptly ended as Smith, a devoted Christian who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, underwent baptism in a children’s paddling pool at a Birmingham residence.
Emergency responders were summoned, but unfortunately, the grandfather of seven had already passed away. West Midlands Police confirmed that a post-mortem examination determined drowning as the cause of death, as they announced the charges on Wednesday.
Following the incident, the pastor reportedly recorded a video discussing the death, sharing that she envisioned Smith in heaven, “dancing with Jesus,” according to the Telegraph.
She faces charges of gross negligence manslaughter, an offense in the UK that can lead to a prison sentence ranging from 1 to 18 years. Her court appearance is scheduled for May 14 at a magistrates court in Birmingham.
Smith was originally from Jamaica but had lived in the UK for 25 years. He was a barber in Brixton, London, according to the Guardian.
He had already been baptized but wanted the new ceremony to become a âborn-again believer,” the Telegraph reported.
