A vegetarian couple has been accused of starving their three-year-old daughter to death by feeding her a restrictive diet consisting primarily of butter, lentils, and yogurt. Manpreet Jatana, aged 34, and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, aged 36, appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday, facing charges related to the death of their daughter, Penelope Chandle.
Prosecution Details the Alleged Neglect
Prosecutor Phillip McGhee informed the court that the couple, both of Indian heritage and committed vegetarians, deliberately starved the child, which ultimately resulted in her tragic death. Penelope's body was discovered at her family home in Hayes, west London, on December 17, 2023, after her mother contacted a funeral director to report the passing.
Medical Findings and Legal Proceedings
Medical experts determined that the cause of death was severe malnutrition combined with ketoacidosis, a serious condition often linked to starvation. During their appearance via video link from HMP Belmarsh and HMP Bronzefield, Jatana and Singh Uppal were both seen wearing large blue turbans.
The parents have entered not guilty pleas to charges of murder, as well as alternative offences including manslaughter by gross negligence, causing or allowing the death of a child, and child cruelty. An eight-week trial is scheduled to commence on January 11, 2027, and will be presided over by a High Court judge.
Social Isolation and Dietary Restrictions
Prosecutor McGhee highlighted that neither defendant was employed at the time of the incident, and they had been out of work for an extended period. The couple was described as largely isolated from their extended family and the broader community, with their household diet heavily reliant on butter, lentils, and yogurt.
Judge Mark Lucraft, the Recorder of London, has remanded both individuals in custody pending a further case management hearing set for July 17. The case continues to unfold as legal preparations advance toward the trial date.
