Eleven people have gone on trial in Scotland accused of sexually abusing children and involving them in witchcraft.
The seven men and four women face 32 charges between them, all of which they deny.
It is alleged all the accused forced two children to participate in seances, used a Ouija board to convince the children they could “communicate with spirits and demons”, and made them participate in classes involving witchcraft causing them to believe they had “metamorphosed” into animals on various occasions between 2016 and 2020.
It is also alleged all the accused “stabbed” dogs to death and forced two children to stab them in 2018.
Iain Owens, 45; Elaine Lannery, 39; Lesley Williams, 41; Paul Brannan, 41; Marianne Gallagher, 38; Scott Forbes, 50; Barry Watson, 47; Mark Carr, 49; Richard Gachagan, 45; Leona Laing, 50; and John Clark, 46; deny all charges against them.
Owens, Lannery, Williams, Brannan and Clark are accused of attempting to murder a girl, who was allegedly put in a microwave, forced to eat dog food, and hung by her clothes from a nail, as well as being chased by people wearing a devil mask, on occasions between December 2015 and June 2019.
Some of the accused face charges of rape and other charges include possession of Class A drugs.
There are also claims members of the group “did clap, cheer and verbally encourage” as well as video record children being sexually abused.
It is alleged the offences, relating to four young children, happened between 2010 and 2020 at various locations in Glasgow.
The trial, which began on Tuesday at the High Court in Glasgow, continues.
