Voodoo woman jailed for exorcism death

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Georgetown, Guyana - A self-professed voodoo priestess was jailed on Thursday. She is awaiting sentencing for fatally beating a woman during a ritual to exorcise evil spirits from her and then burying her body in a shallow grave, authorities said.

Judge Claudette Singh said she would decide on Friday how long 44-year-old Patricia Alves should be jailed for manslaughter.

Police had charged Alves with the murder of Camille Seenauth between February 11 and February 15, 2002 but a jury late on Tuesday ruled 10-2 in favour of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

If Alves, who has been in jail since 2002 awaiting trial, had been convicted of murder, she would have been sentenced to death by hanging.
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