Nicaraguan pastor, Juan Rocha, jailed 36 years for burning woman to death in ‘exorcism’
Posted on May 10, 2017 by konniemoments in News, Religion, World // 0 Comments
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Nicaraguan pastor was sentenced to 36 years in prison for killing a woman thrown naked onto a fire during an exorcism in Managua, Nicaragua
Evangelical pastor Juan Rocha, four of his disciples, accused of tying up mother-of-two Vilma Trujillo for nearly a week in February
They denied her food and water at the El Cortezal chapel
Finally, they threw Trujillo naked into a burning pile of wood to drive the “demons” from her body
Family members eventually rescued her, but she died a week later from the severe burns.
The ‘exorcists’ claim the victim was possessed but denied killing her, that the callous murder was driven by divine revelation
Pastor Rocha, 23, his siblings Tomasa Rocha and Pedro Rocha, and Franklin Jarquin and Esneyda Orozco, were convicted Tuesday of murder
The five men received the maximum 30-year term each murder. All but Orozco got six additional years for the woman’s illegal detention
Pastor Juan Rocha [right] guarded by police during a court hearing in Managua. He was convicted for murder and will serve 30 years in jail
An evangelical Nicaraguan pastor and four followers have been sentenced to over 30 years for burning a woman to death in an alleged exorcism ritual.
Vilma Trujillo, 25, died in February after being tied up and thrown on a fire.
The group had denied killing her and said she was possessed by the devil.
“The suffering that Trujillo was subjected to is something no human being should go through,” said judge Alfredo Silva.
Pastor Juan Rocha, 23, plus his siblings Tomasa and Pedro Rocha, and Franklin Jarquin and Esneyda Orozco, were convicted of murder.
Pastor Juan Rocha [head in hands] and his four followers shown during trial in Managua, Nicaragua
Evangelical pastor Juan Rocha, 23, along with four disciples, was found guilty Tuesday of tying up mom-of-two Vilma Trujillo for nearly a week in February and denying her food and water at the El Cortezal chapel that Rocha ran.
They threw Trujillo naked into a burning pile of wood to drive the “demons” from her body. Family members eventually rescued her, but she died a week later from the severe burns.
Rocha and the four others – his brothers Tomasa Rocha and Pedro Rocha, and Franklin Jarquin and Esneyda Orozco — testified that they believed Trujillo was possessed but denied killing her.
They blamed the fatal act on divine revelation.
Potesters outside the court in Managua, were seeking justice for the victim,Vilma Trujillo
The five men received the maximum 30-year term for Trujillo’s murder. All but Orozco got six additional years for the woman’s illegal detention.
“The suffering that Trujillo was subjected to is something no human being should go through,” said Judge Alfredo Silva.
He called the slaying premeditated and said Trujillo trusted the men.
They were also fined $522 each, a substantial amount in the Central American country where the average monthly salary is less than $400.
Their lawyers vowed to appeal the sentence.
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