West Midlands pastor in court charged with gross negligence manslaughter over baptism drowning

A pastor could face a trial next year accused of gross negligence manslaughter following the drowning of a man at a baptism ceremony in Birmingham.

Cheryl Bartley, 48, was charged in connection with the death of 61-year-old Robert Smith, from Brixton, south London, who drowned at an address in Slade Road, Erdington, on October 8 2023.

Bartley, who wore a light brown trouser suit in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court was not asked to enter a plea to the charge in front of a packed public gallery on Friday.

A group of Bartley’s supporters held a banner outside the court ahead of the hearing.

Judge Andrew Smith KC set a date for the trial, which is expected to last four to five weeks in front of a High Court judge if it goes ahead, as June 14 next year.

Bartley, who is on bail and from Erdington, must live and sleep at an address in Summer Lane in Birmingham between now and her next hearing.

The defendant confirmed that she understood and thanked the judge before she left the dock.