February 20, 2007
World Briefing | Europe

Romania: Prison for Priest and Nuns in Exorcism Death

A court sentenced an Orthodox priest, Daniel Petre Corogeanu, left, to 14 years in prison for killing a 23-year-old nun in a crucifixion exorcism ritual in an isolated monastery in northeastern Tanacu in 2005. The nun, Maricica Irina Cornici, who was said to suffer from schizophrenia, died after spending three days chained to a makeshift cross with no food or water as the priest and nuns prayed to chase out evil spirits they believed possessed her. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Father Corogeanu. The four nuns arrested with him were sentenced to terms of five and eight years.