Kristy Bamu: kindoki 'deliverance' murder convictions (30/25-yr minimums)

Cited record

Sources

Channel 4 News (2012) 'Witchcraft murder: couple jailed for life', Channel 4 News. Available at: channel4.com (Accessed: 14 July 2026).

Fifteen-year-old Kristy Bamu was tortured and drowned in London in 2010 by his sister Magalie Bamu and her partner Eric Bikubi. 'The couple – who were said to be obsessed with witchcraft, or kindoki as it is known in their native Democratic Republic of Congo – accused him of putting spells on a younger child... After he refused to admit to sorcery and witchcraft, his punishments in a ‘deliverance’ ceremony became more horrendous.' 'Judge David Paget sentenced Bikubi to serve at least 30 years and Bamu a minimum of 25 years for their ‘sadistic’ crimes', ruling that 'The belief in witchcraft, however genuine, cannot excuse an assault to another person, let alone the killing of another human being.'