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| Turpin case: California couple deny torturing 'shackled siblings' | Turpin case: California couple deny torturing 'shackled siblings' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The parents accused of holding their 13 children in shackles at a California home have pleaded not guilty. | The parents accused of holding their 13 children in shackles at a California home have pleaded not guilty. |
| David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49, are facing charges of torture, abuse and false imprisonment. | David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49, are facing charges of torture, abuse and false imprisonment. |
| They were arrested after their daughter escaped from their home where police found some of her siblings chained to their beds and severely malnourished. | They were arrested after their daughter escaped from their home where police found some of her siblings chained to their beds and severely malnourished. |
| The couple appeared in court hours after prosecutors detailed the horrific abuse allegations against them. | The couple appeared in court hours after prosecutors detailed the horrific abuse allegations against them. |
| Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said the couple had allegedly punished their children by tying them up - first using ropes and later chaining them to their beds with padlocks. | Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said the couple had allegedly punished their children by tying them up - first using ropes and later chaining them to their beds with padlocks. |
| He said the alleged punishments would last weeks or months, and intensified over time. | He said the alleged punishments would last weeks or months, and intensified over time. |
| The 'happy family' charged with torture | The 'happy family' charged with torture |
| Prosecutors said circumstantial evidence showed the children were not released from their chains to go to the toilet. | Prosecutors said circumstantial evidence showed the children were not released from their chains to go to the toilet. |
| The teenager who escaped and alerted police to the house where her siblings were held captive had been hatching a plan to leave for two years, Mr Hestrin added. | |
| He detailed some of the gruesome allegations against the parents at a news conference on Thursday. | |
| The shocking claims include: | The shocking claims include: |
| A grievous betrayal | A grievous betrayal |
| James Cook, BBC News, Riverside, California | James Cook, BBC News, Riverside, California |
| This case has sent waves of revulsion across the US and beyond, and the small courtroom was packed as the defendants appeared. | This case has sent waves of revulsion across the US and beyond, and the small courtroom was packed as the defendants appeared. |
| David and Louise Turpin were smartly dressed. They occasionally glanced at each other across a table weighed down by a copy of the California penal code and a sheaf of paper related to the case against them. A lawyer sat between them. | David and Louise Turpin were smartly dressed. They occasionally glanced at each other across a table weighed down by a copy of the California penal code and a sheaf of paper related to the case against them. A lawyer sat between them. |
| Mr Turpin, with a distinctive mop of grey hair, was chained around the waist, his stomach protruding from beneath the metal links. His wife's mouth was turned down in a glum expression. | Mr Turpin, with a distinctive mop of grey hair, was chained around the waist, his stomach protruding from beneath the metal links. His wife's mouth was turned down in a glum expression. |
| The couple spoke only briefly and softly to confirm that they understood and accepted procedural details relating to their next hearing. | The couple spoke only briefly and softly to confirm that they understood and accepted procedural details relating to their next hearing. |
| The charges they deny are among the most serious any parent could face: amounting to a grievous betrayal of their own children, a betrayal which prosecutors allege went on for years, if not decades. | The charges they deny are among the most serious any parent could face: amounting to a grievous betrayal of their own children, a betrayal which prosecutors allege went on for years, if not decades. |
| The siblings themselves are said to be doing well but at least some of them have almost certainly suffered irreparable damage, both physical and mental from their ordeal. | The siblings themselves are said to be doing well but at least some of them have almost certainly suffered irreparable damage, both physical and mental from their ordeal. |
| The children, who are aged between 2 and 29 , have been treated in hospital since being freed on Monday. | |
| The 2-year-old was of normal weight but the other children were severely malnourished, authorities said. | The 2-year-old was of normal weight but the other children were severely malnourished, authorities said. |
| The 12-year-old weighed as much as an average 7-year-old and the 29-year-old weighed only 82 lbs (37kg). | The 12-year-old weighed as much as an average 7-year-old and the 29-year-old weighed only 82 lbs (37kg). |
| Several of the children have cognitive impairment and "neuropathy, which is nerve damage, as a result of this extreme and prolonged physical abuse," Mr Hestrin said. | Several of the children have cognitive impairment and "neuropathy, which is nerve damage, as a result of this extreme and prolonged physical abuse," Mr Hestrin said. |
| Though little is known about their education, some of the children were able to read and write. Mr Turpin also registered a private school in their California home, known as Sandcastle Day School. | Though little is known about their education, some of the children were able to read and write. Mr Turpin also registered a private school in their California home, known as Sandcastle Day School. |
| Police have obtained hundreds of journals that the children were allowed to write in and are looking through them for evidence. | Police have obtained hundreds of journals that the children were allowed to write in and are looking through them for evidence. |
| Before moving to California, the family lived in Texas. | Before moving to California, the family lived in Texas. |
| At one point, the parents allegedly lived in a different house from their children and would drop off food from time to time, officials said. | At one point, the parents allegedly lived in a different house from their children and would drop off food from time to time, officials said. |
| If found guilty of the dozens of charges against them, the couple face 94 years to life in prison, Mr Hestrin added. | If found guilty of the dozens of charges against them, the couple face 94 years to life in prison, Mr Hestrin added. |
| Mr Turpin also faces one count of "lewd act on a child under 14 years of age". | Mr Turpin also faces one count of "lewd act on a child under 14 years of age". |
| Can anyone open a school at home in California? | Can anyone open a school at home in California? |
| The 13 children were found in an emaciated state in their filthy, foul-smelling house, police revealed earlier. Officers had at first thought all the children were minors but later realised some were frail and malnourished adults, they said. | The 13 children were found in an emaciated state in their filthy, foul-smelling house, police revealed earlier. Officers had at first thought all the children were minors but later realised some were frail and malnourished adults, they said. |
| Mr Hestrin said that when officers arrived, three of the couple's children were chained to their beds. | Mr Hestrin said that when officers arrived, three of the couple's children were chained to their beds. |
| The charges against David and Louise Turpin: | The charges against David and Louise Turpin: |