14-year-old nearly died in exorcism

VICTIM OF CURSE RITUAL: Janet Moses, 22, of Wainuiomata, was the mother of two little girls. She is thought to have drowned during an exorcism ceremony.

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A 14-year-old girl nearly died in the ritual that killed Wainuiomata mother Janet Moses.
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A total of six people were exorcised last month as relatives tried to drive out a makutu, or Maori curse, thought to have been sparked by the theft of a statue.

The 14-year-old - a cousin of Ms Moses - was admitted to hospital before being taken into Child, Youth and Family care.

Up to 40 family members were in the room watching the ceremony - including Ms Moses' mother for a time - but it is understood there were no spiritual leaders present.

Ms Moses is thought to have drowned during the exorcism, which lasted for hours and involved water held in plastic containers in the lounge of a relative's Wainuiomata home.

The makutu is said to have begun after Ms Moses' sister stole a stone lion statue from outside the Greytown Hotel a week before the exorcism.

When another family member became sick, the family blamed the curse on the theft. Family members told The Dominion Post Ms Moses was exorcised because she was the weakest and thought to be carrying the curse.

Ms Moses, 22, who had two young daughters, Keita and Gwendoline, died about 8am on Friday, October 12, but police were not called till 5.30pm.

She was found on a bed at a relative's home in Wellington Rd and had grazes on her arms and torso. Her young cousin nearly died during the ceremony and was taken to Hutt Hospital that same afternoon.

Police have confirmed that a "cultural ceremony" took place, but would not give details.

"We're satisfied that we know what happened inside the room and that we know the people who were involved," Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Levy of Lower Hutt CIB said.

"We're trying to identify the main leaders."

When asked why the family had waited so long before calling police or medical help, he said: "To be honest, that's something only the family can answer."

Relative Emma Hughes told The Dominion Post Ms Moses was cursed when her sister took one of two lion statues from the pub in Greytown. The family returned the statue the day she died.

"She was cursed," Ms Hughes said. "She didn't take it (the statue). We heard it was her sister and the curse was put on her, the weakest person in the family."

Relatives and neighbours have said Ms Moses was an "awesome mum" to her two daughters, aged one and three.

She lived in an Orewa Grove house with her partner, Andre, who is in his 20s, and she was a fulltime mother.

She had a quiet personality was good at sports, including softball and played for both Wainuiomata and Hutt Valley teams.

Neighbours said Andre had moved out with the children and was staying with family.

Her paternal grandfather, Charlie Moses, sought to clear his family's name last night, saying Ms Moses' father's side of the family was not involved in the tragedy.

He said his granddaughter was terribly missed. "Janet was a lovely girl, a lovely mum and she wouldn't have harmed anyone."

His brother Joe Moses said he was angry with her maternal family for not informing them of the exorcism and for not telling them she had died.

They had not been in contact since her death, he said.

"My family didn't know what was going on," he said. "We just want to clear Janet's name."

- © Fairfax NZ News