Couple starved daughter to death, court told

"A couple murdered their three-year-old daughter by deliberately starving her over many months, a court has heard. Penelope Chandrie's emaciated and bruised body was found wrapped in a sheet at the family home in Hayes, west London, on 17 December 2023. She was found to have died from malnutrition. It is the Crown's case that Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36 and Manpreet Jatana, 34, mistreated their daughter over an "extended period of time" and "deliberately starved" her, prosecutor Philip McGhee told the Old Bailey."

"Tests following Penelope's death indicated "starvation over a prolonged period of many months culminating in fatal ketoacidosis", Mr McGhee said. There were also marks to her neck "consistent with the use of bindings", and injuries to her hands consistent with a sharp object such as a knife, the court was told. At the time the child died, officers found the defendants' home to be in a "poor" condition, and the family's vegetarian diet mainly consisted of yogurt, lentils and butter, Mr McGhee said."

Penelope Chandrie, age three, was discovered emaciated and bruised, wrapped in a sheet at the family home in Hayes, west London, on 17 December 2023, and was found to have died from malnutrition. Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, and Manpreet Jatana, 34, are accused of mistreating and deliberately starving her over an extended period. The couple allegedly failed to register her birth, provide GP care, and isolated themselves. Medical tests indicated prolonged starvation culminating in fatal ketoacidosis. Additional injuries included neck marks consistent with bindings and hand injuries consistent with a sharp object. The home was in poor condition and the family's vegetarian diet mainly consisted of yogurt, lentils and butter. The defendants face charges including murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and abandoning a child or causing unnecessary suffering.

Read at www.bbc.com