Leonora Joseph, 76, and Mark Joseph, 56, were convinced Samantha Ginsburg had cast a spell (Picture: Central News)

A pensioner accused of chanting ‘death by fire’ to a neighbour she believed to be a witch was ordered to leave court today after she told Jesus to kill her.

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, were convinced Samantha Ginsberg had cast a spell on the pensioner which had made her ill.

The born-again Christians also called the victim’s seven-year-old daughter a witch in a campaign of harassment, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard.

The pair harassed Ms Ginsberg by chanting: ‘Death by fire, death to Samantha’ and by turning up their television to maximum volume, it is claimed.


Mrs Joseph also claims she was left partially paralysed by one of Ms Ginsberg’s spells.

Leonora Joseph, 76, and her son Mark Joseph, 56, were convinced Samantha Ginsberg had cast a spell on the pensioner which had made her ill (Picture: Central News)

Prosecutor Robin Simpson said: ‘In essence she [Ms Ginsburg] has a child who suffers from autism and the Josephs believe that child is possessed by witches.



‘There has been a course of behaviour which involves shouting what can only be described as incantations from the bible against her.’

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Giving evidence, Ms Ginsburg said the pair, who lived in the flat below hers, would break into threatening chants or at all hours of the day and night.

They would also turn up the volume of the channel God TV whenever they heard her come into the property.

Ms Ginsburg said: ‘They believe that I am a witch and that I am teaching my daughter to be a witch.

‘Last year some time they started chanting in the middle of the night.’

She heard chants of ‘death by fire’ and calls for an angel to ‘slay’ them, the court heard.

She added: ‘You could hear them getting angrier and angrier. They would go from room to room underneath us.

‘The other thing they would say is “we know you are a witch, you will face justice”.’

Ms Ginsburg said the pair also confronted her on the street while she was walking her young daughter to school and started shouting abuse to her.

The harassment was so intense she started to avoid using the garden to avoid seeing them.

Mrs Joseph repeatedly muttered ‘Jesus’ and phrases under her breath from the moment Ms Ginsburg walked into court, despite being told to stop (Picture: PA)

‘I was afraid for my daughter, I couldn’t give her the freedom or independence she deserved,’ said Ms Ginsburg.

‘I was concerned about whether she was safe.’

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Police eventually spoke to the Josephs in September last year but the harassment continued.

Mrs Joseph repeatedly muttered ‘Jesus’ and phrases under her breath from the moment Ms Ginsburg walked into court, despite being told to stop.

But after she said ‘Jesus kill her’, district Judge Andrew Sweet ordered her to leave court.

‘Mrs Joseph, I gave you two warnings, I said you must not interrupt the witness’ evidence.

‘I will not tolerate you sitting and making comments that are inappropriate,’ said the judge.

Shaking her head as she stepped out, Mrs Joseph told the judge: ‘God be your judge.’

Earlier, her son had asked to address the court, after he became aware of the contents of psychiatric reports conducted on them.

Mr Joseph went on to say that the entire process was ‘spiritual warfare’ against him and his mother.



The mother and son, of Cromwell Road, Wimbledon, deny harassment.

The trial continues.