The woman died from burns she sustained
Juan Gregorio Rocha Romer, a Nicaraguan evangelical pastor and four
of his church members have been found guilty in the death of a
25-year-old woman who was thrown into a fire to drive “demons” from her body.
of his church members have been found guilty in the death of a
25-year-old woman who was thrown into a fire to drive “demons” from her body.
According to ABC News, in a decision handed down late Tuesday, a
five-member jury found pastor Juan Gregorio Rocha Romero and the other
four guilty of homicide in the death of Vilma Trujillo Garcia.
five-member jury found pastor Juan Gregorio Rocha Romero and the other
four guilty of homicide in the death of Vilma Trujillo Garcia.
She suffered burns in over 80 percent of her body, majorly before her shoulders, before dying in February.
Judge Alfredo Silva Chamorro noted there were aggravating
circumstances, because the woman was tied to a tree trunk and left in
the fire for five hours.
circumstances, because the woman was tied to a tree trunk and left in
the fire for five hours.
The pastor, left, was arrested along with four members of the congregation.
Sentencing has been set for May 9. Prosecutors are seeking
sentences of up to 36 years in prison, although Nicaragua’s maximum
sentence is 30 years.
sentences of up to 36 years in prison, although Nicaragua’s maximum
sentence is 30 years.
Rocha Romero had denied wrongdoing, telling the newspaper La Prensa
that the woman fell into the fire without anyone pushing her and a
demon exited her body.
that the woman fell into the fire without anyone pushing her and a
demon exited her body.
The victim was a mother of two who lived in the impoverished mining
township of Rosita, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) northeast of
Managua.
township of Rosita, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) northeast of
Managua.
Rocha Romero reportedly belonged to the Assemblies of God, but the
church issued a statement denying that the pastor was one of its
leaders.
church issued a statement denying that the pastor was one of its
leaders.