Alleged exorcism death accused to be named

Name suppression will be lifted tomorrow for the Lower Hutt family charged over the death of a young woman during an alleged makutu, or curse-lifting ceremony.

Six women and three men have pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Wellington to the manslaughter of 22-year-old Janet Moses.

One of the accused and another man have also denied ill-treating a 14-year-old girl, causing her unnecessary harm.

The 10 accused applied to Justice Simon France yesterday for continued name suppression.

But Justice France announced this morning that name suppression would be lifted at midday tomorrow for those charged with manslaughter.

Those charged with ill-treatment would continue to have their names suppressed.

Crown prosecutor Kate Feltham, in her opening address to the jury of five men and seven women yesterday, said Ms Moses drowned during an apparent cleansing ceremony or makutu at her grandparents' home in Wainuiomata in October 2007.

The family believed Ms Moses was possessed, Ms Feltham said.

During the ceremony, which lasted several days, Ms Moses was restrained, while family members formed a circle around her, poured water into her eyes and down her throat.

A post mortem found that Ms Moses died from drowning.

On behalf of the 10 accused and their lawyers, defence lawyer Mike Antunovic said the family believed they were trying to help Ms Moses.

The family believed Ms Moses was actually possessed, Mr Antunovic said.

None of the accused were acting with any criminal intent, he said.

The trial is set down for four to six weeks.

- NZPA