Brooke Covington retrial set in North Carolina

A retrial for Brooke Covington, a leader of the Word of Faith Fellowship religious group, is scheduled to begin Monday in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Covington faces charges of second-degree kidnapping and simple assault.

The legal proceedings have faced significant delays for over nine years following a 2017 mistrial, which occurred after a jury foreman conducted independent research during deliberations. Delays were further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, attorney retirements and deaths, and a legal dispute involving the original prosecutor that resulted in the suspension of that attorney's law license.

The prosecution alleges that more than 13 years ago, Covington and other members participated in a “blasting” session against Matthew Fenner, a former member who joined the group as a teenager. Fenner claims he was held down, choked, and beaten for two hours while others prayed to expel “homosexual demons.” Covington has maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings.