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Hamzah Khan death: Mother says son 'starved himself' | Hamzah Khan death: Mother says son 'starved himself' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A mother accused of killing her four-year-old son denied starving him because "he would starve himself", a court has heard. | A mother accused of killing her four-year-old son denied starving him because "he would starve himself", a court has heard. |
Amanda Hutton said she panicked when Hamzah Khan died in 2009. | Amanda Hutton said she panicked when Hamzah Khan died in 2009. |
In an interview played to Bradford Crown Court, she said she had failed to get him medical help because she had a fear of doctors and hospitals. | In an interview played to Bradford Crown Court, she said she had failed to get him medical help because she had a fear of doctors and hospitals. |
Hamzah's remains were not found until 2011. Ms Hutton, 43, has denied manslaughter. | |
Earlier the court heard evidence from Det Con Richard Dove, who discovered Hamzah's mummified body in a cot in his mother's bedroom and said that at first he thought the child was not real. | Earlier the court heard evidence from Det Con Richard Dove, who discovered Hamzah's mummified body in a cot in his mother's bedroom and said that at first he thought the child was not real. |
He told the court that when he arrived at Ms Hutton's house it was a tip, with a strong smell "like rubbish, mixed with sweat, mixed with urine" and he could not get into the sitting room because rubbish was blocking the door. | He told the court that when he arrived at Ms Hutton's house it was a tip, with a strong smell "like rubbish, mixed with sweat, mixed with urine" and he could not get into the sitting room because rubbish was blocking the door. |
'A difficult one' | 'A difficult one' |
Prosecutors claim Hamzah starved to death due to his mother's neglect of him. | Prosecutors claim Hamzah starved to death due to his mother's neglect of him. |
But in Ms Hutton's police interviews with detectives, she claimed Hamzah had problems from birth and would bang his head against the wall. | But in Ms Hutton's police interviews with detectives, she claimed Hamzah had problems from birth and would bang his head against the wall. |
She described the problems she had getting the youngster to eat and said he lived on a diet of bananas and milk for the last few months of his life. | She described the problems she had getting the youngster to eat and said he lived on a diet of bananas and milk for the last few months of his life. |
"He wasn't being starved, he would starve himself," she said, adding: "He would not eat. He would refuse point blank to eat." | "He wasn't being starved, he would starve himself," she said, adding: "He would not eat. He would refuse point blank to eat." |
She said: "I thought I could handle it, I could get to the top of it and it would be ok." | She said: "I thought I could handle it, I could get to the top of it and it would be ok." |
Asked why she did not take the child to see a doctor, she said: "I don't know, I'm not a doctors person. I do have a fear of doctors and hospitals." | Asked why she did not take the child to see a doctor, she said: "I don't know, I'm not a doctors person. I do have a fear of doctors and hospitals." |
The court heard that in December 2009 Hamzah's condition worsened. His mother said he was still wearing nappies, could not speak and would communicate in what she described as "babble". | The court heard that in December 2009 Hamzah's condition worsened. His mother said he was still wearing nappies, could not speak and would communicate in what she described as "babble". |
'Completely numb' | 'Completely numb' |
Ms Hutton said: "He'd set off screaming and there was nothing you could do to stop him." | Ms Hutton said: "He'd set off screaming and there was nothing you could do to stop him." |
Jurors heard that four weeks before he died he lost the power to walk and would lie in his cot. | Jurors heard that four weeks before he died he lost the power to walk and would lie in his cot. |
She recalled that the night before his death, her son said to her "I love you mum. Are you all right mum?" as she stroked his head. | She recalled that the night before his death, her son said to her "I love you mum. Are you all right mum?" as she stroked his head. |
The day her son died, Ms Hutton received a phone call from her eldest son Tariq Khan saying Hamzah was seriously ill, the court heard. | The day her son died, Ms Hutton received a phone call from her eldest son Tariq Khan saying Hamzah was seriously ill, the court heard. |
She said when she arrived home from shopping Tariq said "look at his eyes" and as she tried to resuscitate him she realised he had died. | She said when she arrived home from shopping Tariq said "look at his eyes" and as she tried to resuscitate him she realised he had died. |
"It's like dizziness closing in and out," she told detectives. | "It's like dizziness closing in and out," she told detectives. |
"I felt completely numb and as each day passed I found it more and more difficult." | "I felt completely numb and as each day passed I found it more and more difficult." |
Police asked Ms Hutton why she did not ring for an ambulance. She said: "Because he'd gone I didn't know what to say or do." | Police asked Ms Hutton why she did not ring for an ambulance. She said: "Because he'd gone I didn't know what to say or do." |
She told police she stopped Tariq from ringing an ambulance saying she needed time to think. She later told people Hamzah had gone to live with relatives in Portsmouth. | She told police she stopped Tariq from ringing an ambulance saying she needed time to think. She later told people Hamzah had gone to live with relatives in Portsmouth. |
The court heard Ms Hutton told officers she ordered a takeaway after her son died. She said she continued claiming child benefits in Hamzah's name and began drinking a litre of vodka a day. | The court heard Ms Hutton told officers she ordered a takeaway after her son died. She said she continued claiming child benefits in Hamzah's name and began drinking a litre of vodka a day. |
'Hand shaking' | 'Hand shaking' |
Det Con Dove told the court he saw vodka bottles in the kitchen and then went upstairs, where he could see a pile of soiled nappies which had "gone mouldy". | Det Con Dove told the court he saw vodka bottles in the kitchen and then went upstairs, where he could see a pile of soiled nappies which had "gone mouldy". |
On entering Ms Hutton's bedroom, the officer saw two cots and initially did not see Hamzah. | On entering Ms Hutton's bedroom, the officer saw two cots and initially did not see Hamzah. |
He told jurors he was looking for evidence of child neglect and cruelty. | He told jurors he was looking for evidence of child neglect and cruelty. |
Mr Dove said: "The bedding was all soaked. The place was in such a state. I've never seen anything like it." | Mr Dove said: "The bedding was all soaked. The place was in such a state. I've never seen anything like it." |
He then briefly left the house, before going back in to begin a search of the cots. | He then briefly left the house, before going back in to begin a search of the cots. |
The detective told jurors he had to remove clothing, shoes and layers of blankets before finding Hamzah's body. | The detective told jurors he had to remove clothing, shoes and layers of blankets before finding Hamzah's body. |
He said: "I was shocked, I thought is that real? I didn't expect to find a child." | He said: "I was shocked, I thought is that real? I didn't expect to find a child." |
Hamzah's body was "mummified" and there were no signs of life, he explained. | Hamzah's body was "mummified" and there were no signs of life, he explained. |
Mr Dove said: "My right hand starting shaking, wobbling, I had no control of it, so I grabbed it to calm myself down." | Mr Dove said: "My right hand starting shaking, wobbling, I had no control of it, so I grabbed it to calm myself down." |
The detective told other officers what he had found. | The detective told other officers what he had found. |
The prosecution has told the court Hamzah had starved to death as a result of his mother's neglect. | The prosecution has told the court Hamzah had starved to death as a result of his mother's neglect. |
She denies one charge of manslaughter by gross negligence and claims her child died from natural causes. | She denies one charge of manslaughter by gross negligence and claims her child died from natural causes. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |