BIRMINGHAM, England — A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a 61-year-old man drowned during a backyard baptism ceremony in Birmingham, England.
Cheryl Bartley, 48, leader of Life Changing Ministries in Erdington, was charged Wednesday with one count of gross negligence manslaughter. The charge relates to the death of Robert Smith, 61, from Brixton in south London. Smith drowned on October 8, 2023, while being baptized in a small paddling pool set up in the garden of a private home on Slade Road in Erdington.
The ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook by the church. Emergency responders were called to the scene, but Smith was pronounced dead at the address. West Midlands Police launched a full investigation into the circumstances of the drowning. After reviewing evidence gathered by detectives, the Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charge against Bartley in connection with her role as pastor during the baptism.
Bartley, who is also from Erdington, is scheduled to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on May 14. Prosecutors have reminded the public that criminal proceedings are active and that Bartley has the right to a fair trial. The case has drawn attention to safety during religious ceremonies that involve water, an issue rarely seen in UK courts but one that highlights the potential risks in faith-based events meant to celebrate spiritual commitment.
The drowning occurred more than two and a half years ago, and the investigation spanned that period as authorities examined witness accounts and video from the livestream.
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The ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook by the church.
The ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook by the church.
