In a case that has shocked communities across the UK and beyond, an Indian-origin couple faces murder charges over deliberately Starving 3-Year-Old Daughter to Death over several months. The grim details emerged during a court hearing at London’s Old Bailey, painting a picture of prolonged neglect and isolation. Manpreet Jatana, 34, and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, 36, both from Hayes in west London, appeared in court on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, charged with the killing of Penelope Chandrie. The toddler’s body was discovered nearly two years earlier, in December 2023, wrapped in a sheet at the family home. This hearing marks a significant step in a long-running investigation that has uncovered evidence of systematic mistreatment. As the case unfolds, questions arise about how such abuse could go undetected for so long.
Starving 3-Year-Old Daughter to Death
Emergency services were called to a residential address on Pennine Way in Hayes on the evening of December 17, 2023, following reports of a child in distress. Upon arrival, paramedics and police found the lifeless body of three-year-old Penelope Chandrie, severely emaciated and showing signs of bruising. The child was wrapped in a sheet inside the family’s modest home, a detail that immediately raised suspicions of foul play.
A post-mortem examination conducted shortly after confirmed the cause of death as malnutrition resulting from prolonged starvation, specifically fatal ketoacidosis—a condition triggered by the body’s inability to process fats and proteins due to extreme lack of food intake over many months. The discovery prompted an immediate arrest of Jatana and Jaskiret Singh Uppal, who were detained at the scene. Initial inquiries revealed that Penelope Chandrie’s birth, which occurred around 2020, had never been officially registered with authorities.
The family had also failed to enroll her with a general practitioner, effectively keeping her existence off the radar of child welfare services. Neighbors later described the household as reclusive, with little interaction from the parents or visible signs of the child playing outside. The home itself was described by investigators as being in a state of disrepair, with cluttered conditions that suggested neglect extended beyond just nutrition. As the investigation deepened, detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s homicide command unit uncovered a timeline of isolation.
The couple, who followed a strict vegetarian diet primarily consisting of yogurt, lentils, and butter, allegedly restricted Penelope Chandrie’s intake even further. Pathological reports indicated that the starvation was not a sudden event but a deliberate and sustained act, with the child’s body showing muscle wasting and organ failure consistent with chronic undernourishment. Bruises on her neck were linked to possible bindings, and injuries to her hands suggested contact with a sharp object, such as a knife. A ligature was found attached to the stair bannisters, adding to the evidence of restraint or harm.
In the immediate aftermath, the parents reportedly contacted a funeral director, posing as hospital staff to arrange for the body’s removal. Earlier considerations included an attempt to cremate the remains in their back garden, a plan that was abandoned. These actions, according to police statements, demonstrated an intent to conceal the circumstances of the death. The probe, which spanned nearly two years, involved forensic analysis, witness interviews, and consultations with child protection experts. By last month, in September 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized formal charges, leading to the couple’s court appearance.
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This phase of the case highlights systemic gaps in monitoring isolated families, particularly those new to the UK or with cultural practices that limit external engagement. Hayes, a diverse suburb with a significant South Asian population, has seen an uptick in such tragedies in recent years, prompting local authorities to review safeguarding protocols.
Court Appearance at the Old Bailey: Charges and Proceedings
The Old Bailey courtroom was tense on September 30, 2025, as Jatana and Uppal stood before Judge Lynn Tayton for their first hearing on the murder indictment. Jaskiret Singh Uppal appeared in person, dressed in a grey tracksuit, while Jatana joined via videolink from HMP Bronzefield, a women’s prison in Surrey. Neither entered pleas at this preliminary stage, and reporting restrictions remain in place until the next court date. The judge remanded both defendants in custody, scheduling a plea and trial preparation hearing for December 16, 2025. If they plead not guilty, a full trial could follow in early 2026.
Prosecutor Philip McGhee opened the proceedings by outlining the Crown’s case: that the couple had “deliberately starved” Penelope Chandrie over an extended period, combining neglect with active mistreatment. He emphasized the “systematic” nature of the abuse, supported by medical evidence showing the child weighed far below average for her age at death. Additional charges include manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child, and child cruelty—specifically, abandoning or causing unnecessary suffering or injury to a minor. These lesser counts provide fallback options if the murder charge does not hold, but McGhee stressed the intent element central to the primary accusation.
The hearing lasted less than an hour, with no applications for bail from the defense. Legal representatives for the couple—Jaskiret Singh Uppal’s solicitor from a local firm and Jatana’s from a London-based practice—reserved comment, citing the ongoing restrictions. Outside the court, a small group of supporters, believed to include extended family members, gathered quietly, though no statements were issued. The Metropolitan Police, through a spokesperson, reiterated their commitment to the case, noting the “heartbreaking” impact on all involved.
This appearance comes after months of meticulous evidence gathering, including digital forensics from the family’s devices and analysis of their financial records, which showed no expenditures on child-specific nutrition or medical supplies. The charges reflect the gravity of the allegations, with murder carrying a mandatory life sentence if convicted. Manslaughter, by contrast, could result in up to 30 years. The dual Indian-origin background of the parents has drawn media attention from both UK and South Asian outlets, though authorities have urged restraint to avoid prejudicing the trial.
The Old Bailey, known for handling high-profile cases, now hosts this tragedy amid a broader national conversation on child protection. Recent statistics from the NSPCC indicate that neglect accounts for over 60% of child abuse referrals in England, underscoring the urgency of preventive measures.
Evidence of Abuse and the Path Forward for Justice
Central to the prosecution’s narrative is the forensic evidence pointing to deliberate deprivation. Post-mortem findings detailed starvation as the primary cause, with ketoacidosis developing from the body’s desperate breakdown of fats in the absence of carbohydrates. Experts testified that such a state requires weeks to months of inadequate feeding, ruling out accidental oversight. The child’s diet, prosecutors allege, was limited to meager portions of the family’s staples—yogurt, lentils, and butter—insufficient for growth and development in a toddler.
Physical injuries further complicate the picture. Neck markings aligned with ligature use, corroborated by the discovery of a binding on the home’s stairs, suggesting restraint to prevent the child from accessing food. Hand wounds, consistent with blade exposure, hint at additional violence, though the exact context remains under investigation. The home’s squalor, with unclean conditions and lack of age-appropriate toys or bedding, painted a scene of total neglect. Isolation was key: no school enrollment plans, no playgroup involvement, and severed ties with potential support networks.
Family dynamics add layers to the inquiry. Jatana and Uppal, who emigrated from India in the early 2010s, worked in low-paid jobs—Uppal as a delivery driver and Jatana in retail—struggling with the capital’s high living costs. Yet, financial probes found no barriers to basic provisioning, challenging any poverty defense. The couple’s decision to forgo birth registration and healthcare enrollment isolated Penelope Chandrie from safeguards like routine health checks, a choice prosecutors frame as intentional evasion.
As the case progresses to December’s plea hearing, the focus shifts to trial preparation. The CPS must prove intent beyond reasonable doubt, a high bar met through circumstantial and expert testimony. Defense strategies may invoke mental health issues or cultural misunderstandings around discipline, though early indications suggest a not-guilty stance. Victim support groups, including Childline, have ramped up awareness campaigns in Hayes, offering resources for at-risk families.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of hidden vulnerabilities in multicultural urban settings. With over 50,000 children in England subject to child protection plans annually, cases like Penelope Chandrie’s demand robust intervention. The road to justice remains long, but the allegations ensure her short life will not fade quietly. Authorities vow a thorough prosecution, honoring the toddler’s memory through accountability.
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