Pastor Charged in Baptism Drowning

0:00On April 8th, a pastor in Birmingham faces gross negligence manslaughter charges after a 61-year-old man drowned during a baptism ceremony back on October 8th, 2023. The victim was Robert Smith from Brixton and South London, and the incident happened at a home on Slade Road in Erdington. Cheryl Bartley, the 48-year-old pastor overseeing the event, is the one prosecutors are holding accountable. Crown prosecution service officials say they've got solid evidence, and it's in the public interest to move forward, after teaming up closely with West, Midland's police on the investigation. Now, Bartley is set to appear in Birmingham magistrate's court on May 14th, and authorities are urging everyone to avoid in the online chatter that could mess with her right to a fair trial. This case shines a light on the risks in these private religious rituals, reminding us how one moment of oversight can turn tragic stay tuned as it unfolds in court.