Couple Denies Starving Daughter, 3, to Death

A couple has denied murdering their three-year-old daughter, Penelope Chandle, who allegedly died from severe malnutrition and ketoacidosis. Jaskiret Singh Uppal and Manpreet Jatana pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter, child cruelty, and causing or allowing the death of a child at the Old Bailey. The child's body was found at her west London home in December 2023, exhibiting signs of extreme emaciation and bruising.

The prosecution contends that the defendants deliberately starved their daughter over an extended period. The family's vegetarian diet reportedly consisted mainly of yogurt, lentils, and butter. Investigations revealed that Penelope's birth was never registered, and she was not enrolled in school. Furthermore, the couple had isolated themselves and failed to provide her with regular medical care.

Prosecutors allege the defendants considered cremating the child's body in their back garden before contacting a funeral director after her death. The couple, who met at university, were living in a property owned by Uppal's father and had been unemployed for some time. A trial has been scheduled for January 11, 2027.