KEY POINTS:
Surgeons battled to save the sight of a teenage girl who had her eyes gouged during last month's fatal exorcism in Wainuiomata, it was revealed today.
The 14-year-old, who nearly died during the exorcism which killed her cousin Janet Moses, needed emergency treatment to save her sight after relatives scratched at her eyes to remove the devil, the Dominion Post reported.
The girl had chunks gouged from her eyeballs.
The October 12 ceremony, which Ms Moses' father said was run by family on her mother's side, was arranged to lift a Maori curse. The curse was believed to have started after Ms Moses' sister stole a stone lion statue from the Greytown pub.
The Dominion Post reported that the girl's family believed they saw the devil in her eyes - and tried to scratch out the curse with their fingers.
Relatives also syringed water into her eyes and poured it down her throat in an attempt to drive out the curse.
Ms Moses, 22, a mother of two, also had her eyes scratched and water syringed into them before she drowned as up to 40 relatives watched.
After her death, family members continued to work on her young cousin in the same way.
Another five people, aged 14, 15, 16, 29 and 31 were also treated in the curse-lifting ceremony, but not harmed, the newspaper said.
The 14-year-old was taken to Hutt Hospital close to death.
An eye specialist from Wellington Hospital was called in to treat her injuries. She remained in hospital for several days.
It is understood that doctors believe they have saved the girl's sight.
The teen was later taken into Child, Youth and Family care but the agency would not confirm whether she was still in care.
A spokeswoman said the girl was in a safe and secure environment and the agency was working with the family.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy told the newspaper police were still working through evidence, seeking legal advice and consulting Maori experts.
"We know what's happened, but we're assessing the culpability of individuals," he said.
- NZPA
