A man who drowned during a baptism was suffering from Parkinson's and was under water for four minutes, a court heard.
Robert Smith died during the Christian ceremony held in the back garden of a private address in Birmingham in October 2023.
Pastor Cheryl Bartley, 48, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
The case had to be moved to a bigger courtroom to accommodate 40 of her followers and family members. Bartley, dressed in a sky-blue suit, did not enter a plea.
Prosecutor Satvinder Ruck said the matter would have to be sent to the Crown Court for future hearings.
Sean Sullivan, representing Bartley, said she was a woman of previous good character who had been living in the UK for 30 years.
He told the court: ‘Each part of the alleged offence is challenged by the defence – namely that the defendant owed a duty of care to the deceased.
‘If there was such a duty then it is challenged that she failed in that duty by negligent act or omission and if there was a negligent act or omission then it is challenged that this caused the death or that it amounted to gross negligence.’
Pastor Cheryl Bartley, 48, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday
Bartley, dressed in a sky-blue suit, did not enter a plea.
The case had to be moved to a bigger courtroom to accommodate 40 of her followers and family members including one who carried a 'not guilty' sign
During a discussion over appropriate bail conditions, Ms Ruck said: ‘The offence is a serious one. Mr Smith was 61 and suffering from Parkinson’s.
‘His physical disabilities, his tremors and stiffness were clear to see.'
She said he entered the water and remained submerged for four minutes.
District Judge David Wain said he would impose conditions of her not conducting any baptisms and not leaving the UK.
He told Bartley, ‘These are very serious allegations. They can only be heard in the Crown Court.’
She will next appear at Birmingham Crown Court on June 11.
Mr Smith was taking part in the ceremony carried out by Life Changing Ministries in a small pool in the property's garden.
The baptism event was streamed live on the church's Facebook page, but the stream was cut during the event and the video later removed.
Mr Smith had reportedly travelled to Birmingham to be baptised having been a member of the church for four years.
Originally from Jamaica, Mr Smith had seven grandchildren and had been in the UK for at least 25 years, settling in Brixton, south London, where he worked as a barber.
He had already been baptised when he was a teenager but wanted a second ceremony to become a 'born-again believer'.