Germany: Husband, in-laws charged in woman’s exorcism death

German authorities have charged four people in the death of a young woman who died in an apparent exorcism ritual almost 4 1/2 years ago

BERLIN —
German authorities have charged four people in the death of a young woman who died in an apparent exorcism ritual almost 4 1/2 years ago.

Berlin prosecutors said Tuesday that the 22-year-old woman’s husband and three other defendants face a charge of causing serious bodily harm resulting in death for their alleged attempt to “cure” the victim’s infertility .

They accused the four of “jointly killing” the woman, identified only as Nesma M., “with a ‘salt water treatment’ intended to expel demons.”

Authorities say Nesma M. was forced to drink large amounts of salt water between Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 2015, the day she died in a Berlin hospital of pulmonary embolisms and excess fluid in the brain..

Prosecutors identified the accused as the victims’s husband, 34-year-old Wajdi H., his parents Widad A., 57, and Mohammad H., 58, and 49-year-old Mazen K., described as an “Islamic miracle healer.” Authorities didn’t release the surnames of those involved in the case for privacy reasons.