A 15-year-old boy was tortured and drowned because a relative believed he was a witch, the Old Bailey has heard.
Kristy Bamu, from Paris, who was spending Christmas with family, was found dead in Newham, east London, on 25 December 2010.
Kristy had 101 injuries and died from being beaten with a metal bar and drowning, the court heard.
His brother-in-law, Eric Bikubi, and sister, Magalie Bamu, both Congolese and aged 28, of Newham, deny murder.
Prosecutors told jurors of acts they described as “depraved”, “wicked” and “cruel”.
Mr Bikubi admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, a plea not accepted by the prosecution.
‘Begged to die’
Kristy’s siblings were forced to join in the attack before they were all placed in the bath to be hosed down in cold water by Mr Bikubi, the court heard.
The teenager was said to be in such pain after days of being hit with sticks, a metal bar, hammer and chisel that he begged to die.
“It was only when he [Mr Bikubi] realised that Kristy was not moving that he stopped what he was doing and pulled him from the water,” said Brian Altman QC, prosecuting.
“By then it was too late.”
The youngsters, who were visiting from Paris for the holiday, were forced to lie to their parents about what was happening when they phoned, the jury heard.
When police arrived they found Kristy and his siblings – brother Yves, 22, and and sister Kelly, 20, and other children.
“Start Quote
Wickedly, the defendants also recruited sibling against sibling as vehicles for their violence”
End Quote Brian Altman QC
Kelly Bamu said their holiday turned sour when Mr Bikubi and Ms Bamu, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, accused Kristy, herself and their younger sister of “being witches or sorcerers – practising witchcraft” which adversely influenced another child.
“Despite her own siblings’ denials that they were sorcerers, Magalie Bamu joined her boyfriend in repeating these fantastic claims and participating in the assaults,” Mr Altman said.
The three were beaten and refused food, drink and sleep and eventually, to stop the torture, they admitted being sorcerers, the jury was told.
But it was Kristy who became the focus of Mr Bikubi’s attention, the court heard.
Mr Altman said: “Wickedly, the defendants also recruited sibling against sibling as vehicles for their violence.
“In a staggering act of depravity and cruelty, they both forced the others to take part in the assaults upon Kristy.”
He added: “As Kristy’s injuries became ever more severe he even pleaded to be allowed to die.”
Mr Altman said Mr Bikubi’s admission of manslaughter was rejected by the prosecution, which argues the couple carried out “the very deliberate murder” of Kristy.
Ms Bamu also denies two charges of causing actual bodily harm to her sisters.
The trial continues.
BBC