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Shahena Uddin: Teenager ‘forced to lick toilet bowl’ before beaten to death, court hears

'Shahena was a vulnerable young person. She suffered abuse and violence at the hands of her own family'

Serina Sandhu
Tuesday 20 October 2015 09:22 BST
The trial is taking place at St Albans Crown Court
The trial is taking place at St Albans Crown Court (Rex Features)

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A teenage girl was beaten to death by her own family after being forced to live under a strict regime in which she was made to lick the toilet bowl and eat her own faeces, a court has heard.

Shahena Uddin, 19, from Watford, was found dead in a bathroom at the family home by ambulance staff on the morning of 11 October last year.

According to a pathologist, Shahena had choked on her own vomit.

Shahena's sister, four brothers and two sister-in-laws deny charges including murder and causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer, QC, told jurors at St Albans Crown Court on Monday that she “had been repeatedly struck to her body with a weapon or implement," according to Watford Observer.

“Shahena had been badly beaten in the home in the hours before the 999 call. There was a good deal of evidence of head injury. Both sides of her head had been beaten."

He told the court blood and vomit stains had been concealed and Shahena’s soiled clothing had been put in bin bags outside, the BBC reported.

Mr Trimmer also said household punishments and beatings were “commonplace”.

The court heard Shahena was made to lick the toilet bowel or seat and eat paper. It was claimed she was not allowed to use the lavatory and would have to use the sink instead at times.

“Shahena was a vulnerable young person. She suffered abuse and violence at the hands of her own family. The regime of brutality and extreme violence was so deeply embedded and feared, that she could not risk the results of any form of complaint to the outside world," said Mr Trimmer.

Shahena’s brother, Suhail Uddin, 35 and his wife Salma Begum, 32, became the legal guardians of her and two other sisters in 2010. Both plead not guilty to Shahena's murder.

Brothers Tohel, 24, Jewell, 27, and Jhuhal, 33, and Ms Begum, deny causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

Sister Rehena Uddin, 22, also pleads not guilty to the charges.

The wife of Jhuhal, Laila Begum, 25, denies causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

All seven family members are also accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, according to Watford Observer.

The trial is ongoing.

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