A Nepali court in late December found four Christians guilty of violence and witchcraft against a severely mentally ill woman whom they sought to heal, even though she testified in court in their favour, saying she was now better.
The four were sentenced to five years in prison. A fifth Christian, Rupa Thapa, was found not guilty and released after the hearing in a district in western Nepal.
Imprisoned since July
The five had been imprisoned since July for witchcraft, forceful imprisonment and violence towards the woman, despite her husband also saying they are innocent. Alongside those charges, they were questioned about trying to convert their alleged victim.
