Overview
- Cheryl Bartley, 48, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged over the 2023 drowning of Robert Smith during a baptism.
- Prosecutors told the court that Smith, 61, had Parkinson's disease and was submerged in water for about four minutes.
- Defense counsel said the case is contested, disputing any duty of care, any negligent act or omission, causation of death, and gross negligence.
- District Judge David Wain granted bail with conditions that she does not conduct baptisms and does not leave the UK, with a Crown Court hearing set for June 11.
- The baptism took place in a small garden pool and was livestreamed on Facebook before the stream was cut and the video removed.