Starving boy ate contents of own nappy, jury told

A STARVED boy found mummified in his mother’s bedroom was so mistreated he ate the contents of his nappy and slept in a buggy that stank of urine, his brother told a court.

Hamzah Khans mummified body was found in bedroom. Picture: SWNS.com

Qaiser Khan, 22, gave evidence on the third day of the trial of his mother Amanda Hutton, who denies the manslaughter of her son Hamzah Khan, four.

Hamzah’s body was found in a travel cot in his mother’s bedroom in September 2011. He had died 21 months earlier.

Yesterday, Mr Khan told a jury at Bradford Crown Court how he went to the house between December 2008 and March 2009.

He said Hamzah slept upright in a urine-soaked buggy that “stank”.

Mr Khan said his brother was left in a dirty nappy and he witnessed him eating the contents.

He told the jury: “I was only at the house for a couple of days. The buggy smelled so bad I got disinfectant and cleaned it out.”

Mr Khan was also asked about a text sent from his phone to Hutton in December 2008. Paul Greaney, QC, prosecuting, said the text read: “Watch out Monday you bitch. I’m going to go to the police station to report you for child neglect and abuse. Look at Hamzah.”

Mr Khan said he did not remember sending it.

Asked by Stephen Meadowcroft QC, defending, if he was exaggerating because he had a bad relationship with his mother, Mr Khan said: “I’ve seen this with my own eyes.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Khan had refused to answer questions when he stepped into the witness box. However, after a break he gave evidence.

The prosecution claim Hutton starved her son to death.

The defendant told police her son died after he was taken ill.

Mr Meadowcroft said Hutton was “coping” before Hamzah’s death, adding: “The child died tragically and it wasn’t her fault. After that, she collapsed.”

Mr Khan said: “It was quite clear she wasn’t coping. She hadn’t cleaned the house up and she didn’t clean the nappies.”

Earlier, the court heard how Hamzah’s father, Aftab Khan, urged police to check Hamzah and told officers he was going to report his wife to social services.

The jury was read a police interview with Aftab Khan in 2008 when he had been arrested for assaulting Hutton. In the interview, Mr Khan claimed Hamzah was neglected.

Mr Lawrie said police went to the house following the interview, and confirmed officers had been called to the home on eight separate occasions in the two and a half years up to 2008.

The trial continues.