Summary
A pastor named Cheryl Bartley has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a man named Robert Smith drowned during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham, England. The incident occurred on October 8, 2023, and the pastor will appear in court on May 14.
Key Facts
- Robert Smith, 61, drowned during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham on October 8, 2023.
- Cheryl Bartley, 48, is the pastor charged with gross negligence manslaughter.
- The charge relates to Bartley's role in the baptism ceremony where the drowning occurred.
- The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is handling the case, having worked with West Midlands Police.
- Bartley is scheduled to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on May 14.
- The head of the CPS's special crime division emphasized the importance of a fair trial and warned against prejudicing the proceedings with online commentary.
