Crime
Seven Nigerians in UK on trial for killing own family while trying to deliver him from ‘evil spirits’
A Nigerian family living in the UK are currently on trial for their roles in the death of their family member, Kennedy Ife.
Kennedy’s parents, Kenneth and Josephine, and five brothers Roy, Harry, Colin, Samuel and Daniel are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of his manslaughter.
According to reports, 26-year-old Ife died after his family tied him up and performed an exorcism to deliver him from evil spirits.
The Court heard how Ife’s parents and brothers chained and chanted prayers to cure him from the evil spirits.
Jurors heard that Ife was chained with cable ties, rope and handcuffs at home in Enfield, north London, in the days before his death in August 2016.
Prosecutor Tom Little QC said:
“They decided that he should be restrained in his own home with them rather than calling 999.
The family put misguided religious beliefs about this young man being possessed by a demon or evil spirits, before the obvious and common sense conclusion that he needed help and did not need to be restrained.”
“The 999 call that was eventually made for expert assistance was too late.
“The family put misguided religious beliefs about this young man being possessed by a demon or evil spirits before the obvious and common sense conclusion that he needed help and did not need to be restrained.”
An autopsy revealed over 60 injuries on the deceased’s body, including a possible bite. A pathologist concluded a number of them were consistent with “forceful restraint”.
His father, Kenneth, who is based in Nigeria, was found to have a bite injury to the shoulder while four of the brothers also had minor injuries.
Josephine Ife, 56, and Kenneth Ife 64, deny manslaughter, false imprisonment and causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult between August 19 and 23 2016 along with their sons Colin, 26, twins Daniel and Samuel, 20, Harry, 32, and Roy 33.
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