A Christian pastor has appeared in court charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a man drowned during a baptism ceremony that was streamed live on Facebook.
The Charges
Cheryl Bartley, 48, a pastor of Life Changing Ministries, faces one count of unlawfully killing Robert Smith by gross negligence. She entered no plea during her first appearance at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, speaking only to confirm her name, age and address. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleges that Bartley’s conduct fell so far below the standard of a reasonably competent person that it amounted to a criminal act.
The Prosecution’s Case
Prosecutor Amreena Begum told the court that Mr Smith, 61, had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease, which caused him “clear physical disabilities” including difficulties walking, tremors and stiffness. The Crown alleges that Bartley “encouraged” him to enter the water and remain submerged during the ceremony on October 8, 2023. He was held under the water for approximately four minutes before he died.
A post-mortem examination later confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. The baptism took place in a paddling pool in the back garden of a property on Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham. Emergency services were called shortly after 1.30pm and medics administered advanced life support at the scene, but Mr Smith could not be revived and was pronounced dead.
The ceremony was streamed live on the church’s Facebook page. The stream was cut short and the video was later removed. Following Mr Smith’s death, Bartley is also alleged to have recorded a video in which she claimed to have seen him in heaven “dancing with Jesus” and made insensitive comments about the incident.
The Victim
Robert Smith was a barber from Brixton, South London, who had moved to the UK from Jamaica at least 25 years ago. He was a grandfather to seven children and was preparing to welcome his eighth grandchild at the time of his death. His family said he had already been baptised as a teenager but wanted a second ceremony to become a “born-again believer”. He had been a member of Life Changing Ministries for four years and travelled to Birmingham specifically for the baptism.
Life Changing Ministries describes itself as an Apostolic church within the Pentecostal tradition, emphasising the Holy Spirit, evangelism, healing and apostolic leadership. Bartley also hosts a weekly YouTube programme focused on “healing and deliverance”.
Bail and Next Steps
District Judge David Wain granted Bartley bail with strict conditions. She is prohibited from performing any baptisms and is not allowed to leave the country. Bartley, who lives in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, is scheduled to appear next at Birmingham Crown Court on June 11.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS’s Special Crime Division, has emphasised that the criminal proceedings are active and that Bartley has the right to a fair trial. He urged against any reporting or commentary that could prejudice the case.
