A cannibal cult leader calling himself Black
Jesus, who slaughtered his 'Flower Girl' followers and drank their blood, has
himself been murdered in the jungles of Papua New Guinea.
In flowing robes, Stephen Tari, 40, a failed
Bible student, once led 6,000 'disciples' through the mountainous regions of
the country, but was accused of killing at least three young girls and, as
their mothers were forced to watch, drinking their blood.
Calling himself 'the true Christ', he was
convicted of only rape three years ago - before the country brought in new laws
that meant convicted killers and rapists could receive the death penalty - and
was among 48 prisoners who broke out of jail six months ago.
Since
then he has been on the run with a handful of faithful followers, but his
bizarre life came to an end when he was said to have murdered a village woman
this week and attempted to take the life of another.
Surrounded
by furious villagers on Thursday, he is believed to have been beaten and hacked
to death, along with one of his henchmen in the remote village of Gal in the
northern province of Madang.
A
special investigation by the Daily Mail six years ago heard from three women
who said they had witnessed Tari drinking their murdered daughters' blood in
bizarre sacrificial ceremonies in village huts as he led his followers through
the jungle.
Readers discretion is adviced WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT
Madang
provincial police commander Chief Superintendent Sylvester Kalaut told the Post
Courier newspaper that the village where Tari met his death is several miles by
foot along jungle tracks from the nearest small town.
We
are sending police and a doctor to the village to ascertain the cause of death. 'The
village where he was based is a four hour walk and from advice and given
reports of the state of his body, he will have to be buried soon after the
post-mortem is conducted,' said Superintendent Kalaut.
Followers:
Tari gathered more than six thousand disciples with his preaching in the
jungles. The police officer warned that other prisoners who remain on the run
and who might be associated with Tari should give themselves up.
'He
is now dead and this could be the fate of the others who are also on the run
from the authorities. I am warning and strongly urging those escapees to
surrender themselves to authorities.'
At
the height of his infamy, Black Jesus wore long white robes as he stood on a
rock in a jungle clearing and preached his own kind of gospel to his disciples.
He told the crowds that they would receive gifts from heaven if they followed
him.
But
behind his preachings was evil intent. Luring young females he called his
Flower Girls into huts, he cut their throats and consumed their blood, mothers
testified later.
One
woman said she was ordered to drink her own daughter's blood on one occasion. Police
were unable to capture him, despite knowing where he was because of the
constant the presence of his large 'flock' - he was guarded by henchmen who
carried rifles, spears and bows and arrows.
But
villagers finally carried out a 'citizens' arrest' in 2007 and Tari was
eventually jailed.
Now,
it is village power once again that has brought an end to his warped teachings.
It is expected he will be buried near the small jungle community where he was
killed.
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