Kenya cult leader Paul Mackenzie on trial for manslaughter
Al Jazeera
The self-proclaimed pastor faces charges of murder, child torture and terrorism after the deaths of over 400 people.
The leader of a Kenyan starvation sect has gone on trial for manslaughter over the deaths of more than 400 of his followers in one of the world’s worst cult-related tragedies.
Paul Mackenzie, head of the Good News International Church, is currently facing charges of murder, child torture and “terrorism” after last April’s discovery of hundreds of bodies of his followers who had starved to death on his instructions.
In January, Mackenzie pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of manslaughter. But prosecutors have said the cases will be charged under a Kenyan law dealing with suicide pacts.
On Monday, the self-proclaimed pastor appeared in a magistrate’s court in the port city of Mombasa along with more than 90 other suspects, prosecutors and court officials said.
Reporting from Mombasa, Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker said Mackenzie looked frail and thinner than usual in court, but was still a man “portraying that he was in charge to his followers”.
