UK Court: Indian-Origin Parents Charged with Murder After 3-Year-Old Dies from Deliberate Starvation

An Indian-origin couple has been accused in a London court of "deliberately starving" their three-year-old daughter to death. The Metropolitan Police charged the couple with murder nearly two years after the incident.

Manpreet Jatana, 34, and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, appeared at the Old Bailey criminal court facing charges related to the death of their daughter, Penelope Chandrie. Besides murder, the couple has been charged with manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and child abandonment causing unnecessary suffering.

Judge Lynn Tayton has placed both parents in custody until December 16, when they will submit their pleas. This hearing will determine whether the case proceeds to sentencing or a jury trial.

According to the prosecution, Jatana and Uppal mistreated their daughter over an "extended period" and intentionally starved her, ultimately causing her death. The family reportedly maintained a vegetarian diet primarily consisting of yogurt, lentils, and butter.

Law enforcement officers described finding their west London residence in poor condition. In December 2023, police discovered Penelope's "very emaciated" body wrapped in a sheet. The medical examination determined malnutrition as the cause of death.

Pathological evidence suggested "starvation over a prolonged period of many months culminating in fatal ketoacidosis," as stated by prosecutors.

London's emergency services were initially called to a residential address on Pennine Way in Hayes on December 17, 2023, where they found the child deceased. The case remained under investigation for months before Jatana and Uppal were arrested and charged last month.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, both individuals were charged with murder in connection with their daughter's death. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, reporting restrictions remain in place until the next court hearing.