14-year-old dies after exorcism

A 14-year-old girl has died after neighbours and a local pastor tried to treat her convulsions with an exorcism at a church. Sangeeta Persaud began to have convulsions as she was drinking tea for breakfast at her grandmother's home in Canal Number Two, a farming village west of the capital of Guyana, her grandmother said.

The woman said neighbours arrived to help, and a local pastor, Ewart Cummings, convinced them she was suffering from demonic possession. After trying to cast out the demons at her home neighbours carried her to a church, where the pastor and aides rubbed or pounded on her stomach and had her drink lime juice.


Pastor Ewart Cummings

She was finally taken to a hospital, where she died, Police Commander Colin West said Friday. Results from a preliminary autopsy were inconclusive and no one has been charged, but West said police were continuing to investigate. It was not clear why the girl was not taken to a doctor earlier.

The pastor presided over the girl's funeral on Thursday as the child's mother, father and other relatives shouted accusations at one another and at the preacher. The pastor has disputed accounts of what had occurred, but did not say which parts he felt were inaccurate.