In October, 2011, Kirsty Theologo, 18, and her friend Bronwyn Grammer, 14, were doused with petrol and set alight on a hill south of Johannesburg, South Africa, in what authorities and prosecutors say was a Satanic ritual killing.
Before they were set on fire, the girls’ hands were cut and placed on a Bible to allow the blood to soak in.
Theologo died in hospital. Grammer survived but was hospitalized for months and underwent skin grafts.
Two of the six teens accused in the attack, Jeremy King and Lester Moody, admitted to the crime and were both sentenced to 17 years in jail, five of which were suspended.
The trial of the other four — Lindon Wagner, Robin Harwood, Harvey Isha and Courtney Daniels — began last month, with one of the accused claiming in court that Kirsty ‘wanted to be sacrificed.’
Testifying against them, Moody told the court, “She had to be sacrificed for our wishes,” which he identified as power, wisdom, fame and money.
Moody also testified that the ritual during which the girls were set alight was based on a Bible verse which referred to a “great prostitute”.
According to News24 he said that a game he played with Wagner and King, which involved toilet paper and match sticks, instructed them that Theologo had to be sacrificed:
The game, which involved toilet paper and match sticks, instructed them that Theologo had to be sacrificed.
“We asked the game if Kirsty should be the prostitute and it said yes.” This was to act out Revelations 17:16 from the Bible.1
Moody said he read the verse repeatedly and it had left him confused. […]
Moody said they had not discussed the verse with Theologo but she came to the kitchen and said she should be sacrificed.
“She said we should drink her blood, eat her flesh, strip her naked and burn her with fire.” […]
He said although Kirsty had said she was the prostitute to be sacrificed, they did not tell her they were planning to kill her.
Moody also told the court that at the time he did not think he was the beast, but rather one of the horns referred to in the Bible verse.
Notes:
- That Bible verse says, “The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” [Revelation 17:16, New International Version]. Note that the proper name of the Bible book is Revelation; not Revelations. ↩