A Zagazig criminal court sentenced on Sunday a low-ranking policeman to death for killing his three cousins, whom he said had cast a “spell” on him, state news agency MENA reported on Sunday.

The events of the case date back to September 2012, when the culprit shot and killed his cousins – all brothers – outside a mosque where they were praying.

During questioning by the prosecution, the policeman said that he had “family disputes” with his cousins.

He added that what ultimately made him decide to kill them was that some of his fellow villagers told him that the three brothers were performing “sorcery” that made him chronically ill.