The leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult linked to more than 400 deaths was convicted Monday of murdering 190 children and one adult after ordering followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus .
The trial began in 2023. 30, while sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 6.
Mackenzie was arrested and charged with murder alongside his wife and dozens of his followers. Some followers later became prosecution witnesses in the case. A mitigation hearing will be held on Oct. The court found that the directive to fast to death was implemented by targeting children first, while guards were deployed to prevent them from escaping, beating those who attempted to escape or eat.
In April last year, the Court of Appeal allowed the prosecutor to proceed with 191 murder charges against Mackenzie and his co-accused. In May 2024, the High Court directed prosecutors to reduce the murder charges to no more than 12 counts.
“Finally, as a family, we can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Mackenzie and all those who caused the deaths of my family members have been convicted,” he told The Associated Press on Monday. However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the law does not limit the number of charges that can be brought against a defendant.
