In Kenya, Paul Mackenzie, the leader of the “hunger cult” accused of murder in the deaths of 191 children, and 29 defendants appeared before a judge at the Malindi High Court.
According to local media reports, his lawyers argued that the criminal files against Mackenzie were unfounded and that there were multiple accusations in a single charge sheet.
The lawyers argued that it was unclear in which period the accusations were committed and demanded that the charges be dropped.
Prosecutor Victor Mule asked the court to reject Mackenzie’s lawyers’ requests.
Mule said that they had enough concrete evidence against the suspects and that the charges against the defendants warranted the death penalty.
The Malindi High Court is expected to announce its decision on May 17.
Last month, the court charged the sect leader and 29 suspects with murder in connection with the deaths of children, having previously charged them with terrorism, negligent homicide and torture.
Mackenzie had pleaded not guilty to the charges in the trial of 191 children, which was held separately from the adults.
Good News International Church Pastor Paul Mackenzie was investigated for allegedly causing the deaths of several people in April 2023 by promising his church members that they would starve and meet Jesus Christ.
The cases of 238 adults and 191 children were separated after 429 bodies were recovered from the Shakahola Forest where the church was located.