Churchman jailed for exorcism death

by Elsewhere 5 Replies latest jw friends

  • Elsewhere
    Elsewhere

    $1,200 for a childs life.

    http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/17/church.death.ap/index.html

    Churchman jailed for exorcism death

    MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A church elder was sentenced to 21/2 years in prison Tuesday for abusing an 8-year-old autistic boy who died in what prosecutors called an exorcism at a storefront church.

    Prosecutors say Ray Hemphill lay on Terrance Cottrell Jr.'s chest for at least an hour while trying to release "demons" from him, before the boy died August 22, 2003.

    "It was your unreasonable and reckless conduct that caused this child to die," Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jean DiMotto told Hemphill.

    Last month, a jury found Hemphill, 46, guilty of physical abuse of a child recklessly causing great bodily harm.

    Hemphill's attorney had argued his client was trying to help the boy, and that Cottrell died after an overdose of medication.

    The medical examiner ruled the boy died of suffocation.

    Terrance died at the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith in Milwaukee, where Hemphill was a church elder and where the boy and his mother were members.

    The judge also sentenced Hemphill to 71/2 years of extended supervision and ordered him to pay about $1,200 in restitution. He had faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

  • Double Edge
    Double Edge
    pay about $1,200 in restitution.

    The judge gives him 20+ years and $1,200 fine ... he sounds almost as wacky as the "preacherman".

    I just wonder where the parent was for an hour when this was all going on... just pathetic..

  • shera
    shera
    MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A church elder was sentenced to 21/2 years in prison Tuesday for abusing an 8-year-old autistic boy who died in what prosecutors called an exorcism at a storefront church.

    How freaking horribile is that! Oh my,I have a 9 yr old Austisic boy and being that STUPID,thinking it was demons! Makes me ill!

    Religion sucks yah know!

  • Mary
    Mary
    The judge gives him 20+ years and $1,200 fine ... he sounds almost as wacky as the "preacherman".

    Um, I think you might be reading that wrong.....I think it means he got a 2 1/2 year sentence and a $1,200 fine......

    The judge also sentenced Hemphill to 7 1/2 years of extended supervision and ordered him to pay about $1,200 in restitution. He had faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

  • kls
    kls

    Elsewhere , i grew up in Milwaukee and this has been on the news here alot. It makes me sick that everything is the damn devil. It's getting so that you have a zit and satan did it. No wonder people are fleeing religion , look at the idiots the run them and the followers that can't think for themselves.

  • Stefanie
    Stefanie
    The medical examiner ruled the boy died of suffocation.

    Seriously?

    I think the judge needs help!

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit