A couple have been jailed for life after torturing and drowning a teenage boy they believed was a witch.

Magalie Bamu, 29, and her partner Eric Bikubi 28 were found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey last week.

The child had come to London from Paris with his two brothers and sisters to spend Christmas with the family, but he was found dead in a bath after days of abuse.

He was found at their tower block flat in Newham, East London after Bamu and Bikubi accused him of putting spells on another child.

'Almost passes belief'

Judge David Pagent said: "The ordeal they were subjected to almost passes belief."

"The belief in witchcraft, however genuine, cannot excuse an assault to another person, let alone the killing of another human being."

The 13 year old boy, it was heard, was struck with knives, sticks, metal bars, and a hammer and chisel. The boy was also diagnosed as having 130 separate injuries and died from a combination of being beaten and drowning.

Bikubi has been ordered to serve at least 30 years and Bamu a minimum of 25 years.