Justice Diana Kavedza held that 183 of the 191 victims died from starvation, while eight were killed through direct homicide. Alongside the primary leader, 28 followers who acted as gravediggers and enforcement guards received convictions, with an assistant pastor handed a 160-year term. While defense attorneys have launched an appeal against the excessive sentences, the leader still faces further legal battles over hundreds of other deaths. Authorities previously unearthed more than 400 bodies from the remote site, though only about 60 have been positively identified by relatives.
Key points
The defense has launched an appeal arguing that the century-spanning prison terms are unc…: The defense has launched an appeal arguing that the century-spanning prison terms are unconstitutional equivalents to life sentences.
Only about 60 of the more than 400 victims exhumed from the mass graves have been positiv…: Only about 60 of the more than 400 victims exhumed from the mass graves have been positively identified by relatives.
The cult leader still faces separate charges in other courts, including terrorism, mansla…: The cult leader still faces separate charges in other courts, including terrorism, manslaughter, child abuse, and torture.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
MOMBASA, Kenya — The leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult linked to the deaths of more than 400 people was sentenced on Friday to 200 years in prison for the murders of 191 people.
The High Court in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa issued the sentence for Pastor Paul Mackenzie. He was convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult after he ordered his followers to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus.
Mackenzie is also facing terrorism and manslaughter charges for the more than 200 other victims, as well as child abuse and torture charges in two other courts.
Justice Diana Kavedza said that Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, bore the "primary criminal culpability" for relocating his followers to a remote location and ordering them to fast to death.
Mackenzie was charged with the murders alongside 28 of his followers, including guards who enforced his fasting directives and gravediggers who helped conceal the mass graves. All denied the charges, except for one person who confessed and pleaded for leniency.
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