Cultists' child slay trial delayed again

BALTIMORE, July 15 (UPI) -- The long-awaited Baltimore murder trial of an accused Christian cult leader has been delayed again by the defendants' procedural moves, observers say.

Two of the four defendants accused of starving a 2-year-old boy to death -- alleged cult leader Queen Antoinette, 40, and a follower, Trevia Williams, 21 -- said Tuesday in court they have chosen to defend themselves, producing another delay, The (Baltimore) Sun reported.

The pair caused previous delays when they told Baltimore Circuit Judge John Addison Howard they had a lawyer when, in fact, they did not, or said they were going to hire a lawyer and never did, the newspaper reported. Prosecutors at one point attempted to have Antoinette, leader of the 1 Mind Ministries, and Williams psychologically examined in case they wanted to use an insanity defense, but they reportedly refused.

"Obviously, these women don't have the education regarding the process, and they're not going to have the sophistication to raise objections," said attorney Catherine Flynn, who is representing one of the other defendants.

Prosecutors say cult members starved the boy because he refused to say "amen" after meals, The Sun reported.