Brother of Hamzah Khan refuses to give evidence in court

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The brother of a four-year-old boy whose mummified body was found in his mother's bedroom has refused to answer questions in court.

Qaiser Khan, 22, stepped into the witness box at Bradford crown court on the third day of the trial of his mother, Amanda Hutton.

Hutton, 43, denies starving her son Hamzah Khan to death.

Qaiser Khan refused to answer any questions put to him. He then indicated he would not answer any questions at all.

Judge Roger Thomas QC told Khan he was not at court as a volunteer and it was his obligation to give evidence.

The judge then suspended proceedings. The jury returned after a few minutes to hear other evidence.

Khan later returned to the witness box and began to answer questions put by Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting.

The jury has heard how Hamzah's body was found in the cot in the main bedroom of the house in Bradford in September 2011.

He died almost two years earlier, in December 2009.

The prosecution has told the court Hutton starved her son to death.

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

The case continues.

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