Indian-Origin Couple Charged with Starving Daughter to Death in UK

London, Oct 1 (PTI) — An Indian-origin couple was charged with the murder of their three-year-old daughter nearly two years ago by the Metropolitan Police, accused of "deliberately starving" the child at a London court hearing. Manpreet Jatana, 34, and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, appeared at the Old Bailey criminal court on Tuesday, facing charges involving the death of Penelope Chandrie.

In addition to murder, the couple has been charged with manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and abandoning a child or causing unnecessary suffering or injury, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. Judge Lynn Tayton has ordered both into custody until December 16, when they will enter their pleas, determining if the case moves towards sentencing or a jury trial.

The prosecution alleges that Jatana and Uppal mistreated their daughter over an “extended period of time,” intentionally starving her, resulting in her death. The family reportedly adhered to a vegetarian diet primarily comprising yogurt, lentils, and butter, with police describing their home in west London in poor condition.

Authorities discovered Penelope's "very emaciated" body wrapped in a sheet in December 2023, the court was informed. An examination identified malnutrition as the cause of death, with pathological findings indicating prolonged starvation leading to fatal ketoacidosis, according to the prosecution.

Emergency services were summoned to a residence on Pennine Way in Hayes on December 17, 2023, where the child's lifeless body was found, as stated by the Met Police. The child's death was subject to investigation for years until Jatana and Uppal were apprehended and charged last month.

“After consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), both individuals have been charged with murder in connection with the girl's death," police indicated then. Legal proceedings impose reporting restrictions until the next court hearing.