Suspected Murderer Wants Witch Doctor As Witness To Prove An African Curse Made Him Kill

A man accused of stabbing his former lover to death is asking a witch doctor to take the stand and help prove that an African curse made him kill. Bakary Camara, a father or two, is standing trial for the brutal slaying of Rita Morelli. Prosecutors reportedly consider the request for a witch doctor to become a witness in the trial as irrelevant and vowed to fight against it, according to the Daily Mail. Camara was born in the United States but raised in Senegal.

Morelli, 36, was a Hunter College student from Italy living in NYC at the time of her murder. Camara is accused of slashing the victim’s throat and then stabbing her multiples times. Morelli’s body was discovered by her live-in boyfriend. The murder suspect was a security guard at a 7 For All Mankind clothing store where Rita Morelli worked as a sales associate.

The trial judge has yet to ruled on Bakary Camara’s request to have a witch doctor testify in the courtroom. Defense attorney Seema Iyer told the New York Post that she is reaching out to the local West African community to help find a spiritual adviser for her client.

Prosecutor Evan Krutoy had this to say about the unusual defense claim:

“It is difficult to imagine how a witch doctor could be qualified in a court of law. The defense cannot credibly argue that witchcraft is a profession with scientific knowledge or skill.”

A four-page letter found in Camara’s pocket at the time of his arrest addresses the alleged curse. An excerpt from the difficult to decipher note reads:

“They put a curse on me. They make you do anything. Could make you die fast or go to jail. You always be made and sad. This is a curse. There is something in my mind tell me you have to do this, you have to anything bad make thing bad thing hurt people. I always think to make suicide but I can’t. I only think to get kill. I meet that girl Rita Morelli, we was very friend for nine months before we have a relationship.”