A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a man drowned during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham.
The charge was linked to the death of 61-year-old Robert Smith, who drowned at an address in Erdington on October 8 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Mr Smith, from Brixton in south London, died at the address on Slade Road.
Cheryl Bartley, 48, was charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to her role as a pastor during the baptism.
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the CPS’s Special Crime Division, said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
“We have worked closely with West Midlands Police as it has carried out its investigation.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that she has the right to a fair trial.
“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Bartley, from Erdington, will appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday May 14, the CPS said.
