A couple accused of torturing and killing a 15-year-old boy were “obsessed” with witchcraft and warned the boy’s parents they would kill him, his sister has told a court.
Kelly Bamu, 21, struggled to contain her emotions at the Old Bailey as she was shown weapons the court heard had been used to abuse her, her brother and her sister because Eric Bikubi and Magalie Bamu believed they were witches.
Kristy Bamu, 15, was found dead in a bath at a blood-covered flat in Forest Gate, east London, on Christmas Day 2010. He had 101 injuries and was covered in deep cuts and bruising, and an “armoury” of weapons was found nearby, the court was told.
He and four siblings were visiting their sister Magalie from Paris for the Christmas holidays when Magalie and her partner became convinced they were witches, the court heard.
Wicca / WitchcraftNote: Our Witchcraft news tracker includes news items about a wide variety of diverse movements reported in the media as ‘witchcraft.’ It also includes news articles on the plight of alleged witches.Research resources on Witchcraft / WiccaComments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.comShown a metal bar, Kelly told the court that during several days of extreme violence Bikubi had used it to hit Kristy about his body and head, and had repeatedly shoved it into his mouth, dislodging a tooth.
“Eric shoved it as hard as he could, with such force that it broke his tooth,” she said. “Eric said, ‘Get on your knees. Get on your knees.'”
Asked if Kristy had voluntarily opened his mouth, she said: “Kristy had opened his mouth. He said it hurt, but [Bikubi], he didn’t care. He did it a number of times. He’s sick,” she said.
Kelly said that during the violence — which was also directed at her and a sister but focused on Kristy — siblings were recruited to harm the 15-year-old.
Kelly was told to fetch some pliers and twist Kristy’s ear, she told the court. “As if that wasn’t enough, all this blood all over the house,” she said.
Kelly was reprimanded when she did not do enough to hurt her brother, she said. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it, but he said if I didn’t do it, ‘I’m going to do the same thing to you.'” […]
She described how bottles were smashed over her brother’s head, and how Bikubi headbutted and punched him. […]
As Kelly told the court that tiles had been smashed repeatedly over her brother’s head, Magalie began sobbing loudly in the dock. […]
Bikubi denies murder but admits manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, and has pleaded guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm. Magalie Bamu, 28, denies murder and two counts of actual bodily harm. The trial continues.