Trial begins for woman accused of starving son, 4, to death

LONDON, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Prosecutors told jurors in a London court how the shrunken body of 4-year-old boy was found on a cot two years after he allegedly was starved to death.

Amanda Hutton, 43, a former care assistant, is on trial for manslaughter in the death her son, Hamzah Khan, a charge she denies, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Khan's body, dressed in a clothing meant for children younger than a year, was found beneath other items in a discovery which "disturbed even hardened" police officers, the court was told.

Hutton was arrested and charged after a community support officer expressed concern in September 2011 about a smell coming from inside Hutton's home.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney told the jury that police officers found the mummified body of Khan, who died Dec. 15 2009, on a cot in the mother's bedroom.

"Hamzah's growth had been stunted," Greaney said. "It had been stunted because he was malnourished over a lengthy period and that state of affairs resulted in his death. In short, he starved to death."

"How had a child starved to death in 21st century England?" Greaney asked.

The jury also was told that Hutton abused alcohol and drugs and were told they would have to consider whether the child "became a secondary and less important consideration than those addictions," the Telegraph said.

Hutton's lawyers are expected argue that the boy's malnutrition could have been caused by "some naturally occurring condition."

The boy's father, Aftab Khan, was separated from Hutton and lived elsewhere. Greaney said he was violent toward the child's mother.