Makutu Murder: Family Charged With Manslaughter In Death of Woman During Exorcism

Nine members of a New Zealand family will stand trial for the death of Janet Moses during a gruesome exorcism rite of the Maori culture called makutu. The rite is supposed to lift a curse and involves pouring water down the throat of the subject and trying to suck the devil out of her eyeballs.

Part of the ritual involves people putting their mouths over the eyes of the person and trying to suck out the evil in her body. She is then restrained as water is poured into her eyes and down her throat. When the family believed that others had become possessed during the rite, they were given the same treatment. A 14-year-old was injured as part of the expanding exorcism, including gouging of her eyes.

Exorcisms around the world have resulted in injuries and deaths, including in the United States.

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