They demand a trial against 9 people for indigenous massacre in Panama

Authorities: Religious sect kills pregnant women and children (Video from January 2020) 1:13

(CNN Spanish) -

The Public Ministry of Panama reported that a trial was requested for 9 people who would be linked to a religious sect, whom it points out for alleged femicide, homicide and deprivation of liberty in an event that occurred in January 2020, where they were murdered. 7 people, all indigenous, including a pregnant woman and 6 minors, including a one-year-old baby.

The massacre was in the community of El Terrón, located in the Ngobe Buglé region, in the province of Bocas del Toro, an area with difficult access and in a mountainous area, where the authorities found the bodies in a grave.

According to what was declared by witnesses to the Public Ministry, they had been beaten in the middle of a religious cult.

• Mass grave in Panama: Preventive detention is issued against 9 of the 10 allegedly responsible for the death of 7 people

Panama: Victims of alleged religious sect rescued 0:29

The case was discovered by the authorities when three young men escaped from an alleged exorcism session and arrived at the hospital with burns and beatings.

With that alert, 15 people were rescued from the place of worship.

As stated by the prosecution at the time, the rescued group was given a rite similar to the one that ended in the death of the 7 victims.

The Bocas del Toro Prosecutor's Office presented its indictment on Monday.

CNN tried unsuccessfully to obtain information from the Public Ministry on how the defendants testify and details about the defense, but according to the same institution on its Twitter account, the defendants have public defense.

Slaughter