Paul Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, and 30 followers are now facing charges in connection with the shocking murder of 191 children. According to the prosecution’s charge sheet, the remains of 180 of these children remain unidentified.
The defendants, including Mackenzie, did not enter pleas as they underwent mental assessments, following a request granted by High Court Judge Mugure Thande. The next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 6.
Mackenzie and his followers are accused of causing the deaths of 429 church members who believed fasting to death would lead them to meet Jesus Christ before the world’s end. The bodies were discovered in shallow graves on an 800-acre ranch in the secluded Shakahola Forest, Kilifi county.
Following the rescue of 15 emaciated church members by the police, who revealed Mackenzie’s instructions to fast to death, the graves were unearthed.
Tragically, four of the rescued individuals died after being taken to the hospital. Autopsies on the bodies found in the graves indicated causes of death ranging from starvation to strangulation or suffocation.
On Monday, Kenya’s top prosecutor announced charges against 95 individuals, including Mackenzie, for murder, cruelty, child torture, and other crimes. Despite prosecutors’ attempts to extend the suspects’ custody, Principal Magistrate Yousuf Shikanda denied the request, stating that sufficient time had been given for the investigation.
Mackenzie, already serving a one-year prison sentence for operating a film studio without a valid license, allegedly urged followers to move to Shakahola Forest in preparation for the apocalypse.
A Senate committee report revealed Mackenzie’s choice of the area for its remoteness. Within the established villages, followers were prohibited from leaving, interacting with each other, and were instructed to destroy vital documents, complicating the identification of the deceased.
The ongoing trial of Mackenzie and his followers continues, with the next court date scheduled for Feb. 6.
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