A Christian pastor, Cheryl Bartley, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Robert Smith during a baptism ceremony in Erdington, West Midlands.
Smith, 61, who reportedly suffered from Parkinson’s disease, died on October 8, 2023, after drowning in a paddling pool during the ceremony at a private address on Slade Road.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said prosecutors determined there was sufficient evidence and that pursuing the case was in the public interest, following an investigation carried out in collaboration with West Midlands Police.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 1:30pm on the day of the incident. Despite receiving advanced life support, Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
