Erdington Pastor Charged After Man Drowned During Baptism

A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the drowning of a 61-year-old man during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham, England, according to the BBC.

The BBC reports that Robert Smith, of Brixton, London, died on October 8, 2023, after drowning at a property on Slade Road in the Erdington area of the city.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged 48-year-old Cheryl Bartley with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with her role as pastor during the baptism. Bartley, who is from Erdington, is scheduled to appear before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on May 14.

According to the BBC, the baptism was conducted by Life Changing Ministries in a small pool located in the garden of the property. The ceremony was being streamed live on the church’s Facebook page but the broadcast was cut during the event and later removed.

Smith had reportedly travelled to Birmingham for the baptism and had been a member of the church for four years, a Facebook post at the time stated.