The death of a woman during an exorcism ceremony to lift a “makutu”, or traditional curse, is being investigated by police.

Janet Moses, 22, a mother of two, died at her grandmothers home in Wainuiomata, a working-class suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, while 40 of her relatives looked on, police said.

She is believed to have drowned in an “extensive amount” of water poured from plastic containers during the ceremony in the living room. Officers said when they arrived the house was ankle-deep in water.

Posted on: 2007-11-14 18:19:21