Muslim boat captain ‘killed six Christians by throwing them overboard’

Muslim boat captain ‘killed six Christians by throwing them overboard’A Muslim boat captain has gone on trial after being accused of killing six passengers because they were Christians.

The Cameroonian, referred to as Alain N.B in court, blamed the African migrants for bad conditions on the water, according to survivors from the inflatable craft.

Witnesses said the captain and his deputy thought prayers from the Christians were causing the weather to deteriorate on the journey from Nador, Morocco, to Spain.

The men also allegedly struck a Nigerian pastor with wooden planks before tossing him into the sea, according to the Telegraph.

They were then said to have searched the ten metre boat for Christians and eventually ejected five more passengers on the trip in 2014.
The defendant could be locked up for 90 years after prosecutors sought 15 year terms for each of the six deaths.

They argued the alleged killings were religiously motivated and added the captain knew the men had no way of surviving in the water.

More than 21 people died on the trip, including babies, with 29 others rescued.

The captain and his deputy were also allegedly found with €1,500 (£1,287), which was apparently the amount of money the six dead men were carrying.

Alain N. B’s deputy has since died.

Only one body was recovered from the sea but it was not confirmed to be one of the six Christian men who were thrown overboard.

The trial continues in Almeria, Spain.