Couple accused of starving daughter deny murder

A couple from Hayes, west London, accused of deliberately starving their three-year-old daughter to death over several months, have denied murdering her.

Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, and Manpreet Jatana, 34, appeared via video link from HMP Pentonville and Bronzefield respectively at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to plead not guilty to killing Penelope Chandle.

The girl's body was found by police on 17 December 2023, wrapped in a sheet, the court was previously told. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was malnutrition.

They also denied manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and child cruelty. A trial date was set for 11 January 2027.

The previous court hearing was told marks were found to the neck "consistent with the use of bindings", and hand injuries consistent with a sharp object such as a knife.

Prosecutor Philip McGhee also said the Crown's case was that the defendants mistreated their daughter over an "extended period of time" and "deliberately starved" her, leading to her death.

The couple failed to register Penelope's birth, provide her with GP care or education as they "isolated" themselves from the wider world, the court was told.

When the child died, it is alleged they initially thought of cremating the body in the back garden of their home in Hayes, west London, before contacting a funeral director.

At the time Penelope died, officers were said to have found the family's vegetarian diet mainly consisted of yoghurt, lentils and butter, the prosecution said.

The defendants, who met at university, had not worked for sometime and lived in a house belonging to Uppal's father.

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