Carabinieri police on Saturday
arrested three people over allegations a 43-year-old man was
killed during Islamic exorcism rite on February 10 in the town
of Salassa, near Turin, sources said.
It was initially thought that the man had died of a drug
overdose but an autopsy showed that he had suffocated.
This triggered a probe in which Carabinieri based in Ivrea found
evidence allegedly linking the death to an attempted exorcism.
The victim had previously needed hospital treatment, allegedly
following a past attempted exorcism.
The suspects are the victim's ex-wife, his brother and his
uncle, who allegedly led the ritual.
The two men were jailed while the woman was put under house
arrest.
The victim and the suspects are all of North African origin.
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