Wellington, June 12 NZPA - Five of the eight people accused of manslaughter over the drowning of a mother-of-two during a ceremony to lift a curse have been found guilty.

Wainuiomata mother Janet Moses, 22, died on October 12, 2007, after attempts to lift a makutu, or curse, on her.

The eight people accused of killing her were all members of her whanau.

The people found guilty were: John Tahana Rawiri, 49; Tanginoa Apanui, 42; Angela Orupe, 36; Aroha Gwendoline Wharepapa, 48; and Glenys Lynette Wright, 52.

Not guilty were Hall Jones Wharepapa, 46; Gaylene Tangiohororere Kepa, 44; and Alfred Hughes Kepa, 48.

A ninth defendant, Georgina Rawiri, was discharged on Wednesday after Justice Simon France said there was not enough evidence to charge her.

A man and woman with permanent name suppression who denied wilful cruelty towards a 14-year-old girl during the makutu have been found not guilty.

The five people found guilty were remanded on bail for sentencing on August 14.

As the verdicts were read out in court, family and supporters openly wept. Amid chaos outside the courtroom, people were shouting and wailing, and there was hostility towards media and lawyers.

The jury returned its verdicts just after 10pm, after about 17 hours of deliberation.

It returned to the courtroom briefly this morning to ask for clarification on the charges faced by the pair accused of ill-treatment of the child.

During the five-week-long trial, the court was told the family believed Ms Moses had been possessed by demons after two family members stole a concrete lion statue from a hotel in Greytown, in the Wairarapa.

The family performed an exorcism on Ms Moses on October 12, forcing water into her mouth and eyes to flush out demons and lift the makutu.