Pastor Charged With Manslaughter After Man Dies During Baptism
9th April 2026
A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of a man during a paddling pool baptism.
Robert Smith, 61, from Brixton, London, died during the ceremony held in the back garden of an address in Erdington, Birmingham, on October 8 2023.
Cheryl Bartley, 48, who is the pastor for the Life Changing Ministries church, has since been charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to her role in the baptism, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.