(the-sun.com)
A COUPLE deliberately starved their three-year-old daughter to death by feeding her just lentils and yoghurt, a court heard.
Penelope Chandle was found “very emaciated” with her body wrapped in a sheet and bruising to her neck, it was said.
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Her parents Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, and Manpreet Jatana, 34, appeared at the Old Bailey today where they pleaded not guilty to murder.
They also denied manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
The court heard Uppal and Jatana “deliberately starved” their daughter, which led to her to death.
The couple, both of Hayes, North West London, are vegetarians and of Indian heritage.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee previously said Penelope’s birth was never registered and she did not go to school.
He added: “The prosecution allege that over an extended period of time both defendants deliberately starved the deceased child over time leading to the cause of her death.
“Neither of the defendants at the time of death were working nor have they worked for some time.
“They were essentially isolated from not only from their wider family but the wider and outside world.
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“The family’s diet consisted predominately of butter, lentils and yogurt.”
Penelope’s body was discovered at home on December 17, 2023, after her mum called a funeral director and told them her daughter had died.
A post mortem exam gave the youngster’s cause of death as malnutrition.
The court heard there were also marks to the neck “consistent with the use of bindings”.
Penelope also had injuries on her hands that were consistent with a sharp object such as a knife.
An eight week trial is due to begin on January 11, 2027.