Psychiatric Hospital For Mother & Son 'Witchfinders'

Leonora & Mark Joseph

A born-again Christian mother and son ‘witchfinders’, who shouted “death by fire” chants at their upstairs neighbour, have both been committed to secure psychiatric hospitals by a court.

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, targeted 45 year-old Samantha Ginsburg, believing she was a witch, Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard.

District Judge Andrew Sweet announced at the conclusion of their trial he found the allegations proved and they committed the acts claimed.

The Joseph’s, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon both pleaded not guilty to harassing upstairs neighbour Ms Ginsburg between August 27 and November 30, last year.

The charge accuses both Joseph’s of shouting: “Death by fire,” playing their television loudly and calling their neighbour a: “Witch.”

After Ms Ginsburg eventually reported them to the police she logged 38 separate incidents between August 28 and making a second police statement on January 4, this year.

Mrs Joseph will be admitted to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup and her son to Springfield University Hospital, Tooting.

Samantha Ginsburg

Mrs Joseph told the trial: “Somebody in witchcraft will not like the name of God and in particular Jesus. I will call her a witch, because that is what she is, that’s not hateful, that’s her occupation.”

Mrs Joseph claimed Ms Ginsburg was exposed as a witch when she “reacted in horror” upon first meeting her, behaviour a local “Godly” woman said was a tell-tale sign.

“The woman, who I met in Waitrose, told me: “She sees Jesus in you. No-one will know, only a witch will know you are a follower of Jesus.”

During prayers for her failing health Mrs Joseph said she saw an image of Ms Ginsburg on her bedroom wall and said flatmate Klaudius Barran was also involved.

“How can they say we are chanting? Christians don’t chant. We fight against the spirit, we don’t fight against the human.”

She conceded playing religious Trinity Broadcasting Network and God TV at high volume so the neighbours would hear the words.

Quoting Exodus Mrs Jospeh told the court: “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live. That is the word of God.

“We want to destroy this witchcraft. It doesn’t just attack us, but also non-believers and they wouldn’t be aware.

“It comes to us this witchcraft and it is the work of Satan.”

She confirmed the loud prayers and TV were designed to be heard. “It was intended to upset the spirit in them. These are people dealing with evil, with Satan. They are haters of God.”

Her son Mark told the court: “We are in spiritual warfare. They are practicing witchcraft. This is not something a court or police force can deal with.

“We have had a life of hell with them as neighbours. They are tracking us, eavesdropping, all our activities are monitored.

“They are trying to murder us.”