'Rituals at comic's home'

Bill Cosby has found himself at the centre of a bizarre story of witchcraft and betrayal.

The comic has evicted long-time friend Gladys Rodgers from his estate, after his own spiritual adviser accused her of casting spells.

But Rodgers hit back, describing unusual rituals performed by the adviser, Englishman David Kirby, who Cosby calls a 'lama'.

Kirby allegedly used fire, dice, seeds and beads to do readings, while wearing a "gorgeous purple-and-white striped robe with an amulet around his neck."

He became part of Cosby's inner circle after the murder of their only son, Ennis, in 1997.

Rodgers told the Philadelphia Daily News: "He said he once was a monk and lived in a cave for nine years. He'd attained a spiritual enlightenment that allowed him to see things other people didn't. He starts a fire and throws some kind of seeds into it."

After one such ritual, Kirby accused Rodgers of using withcraft gain control over the house and over Cosby.

She says the comedian and his adviser confronted her, claiming to have found hair, feathers, sparkles and traces of blood as evidence of dark ceremonies.

"It was very humiliating," said Rogers, who was evicted at the weekend after a three-day stand-off with police and security men. She had lived there, at Cosby's invitation, for 19 years.

"I was stunned," she said. "After all these years, for it to happen like this. Looking back, I made a poor judgement, but when you're in a friendship, you don't think about those things. It hurts."

She denies the witchcraft allegations, saying she is a Methodist.

Cosby has not commented on the claims

Published: 3 Jul 2002