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| Daniel Pelka death: mother tells court she tried to keep son's bruises secret | Daniel Pelka death: mother tells court she tried to keep son's bruises secret |
| (2 months later) | |
| A mother accused of starving and killing her son has told a court she cannot understand why she allowed her partner to deprive him of food. | A mother accused of starving and killing her son has told a court she cannot understand why she allowed her partner to deprive him of food. |
| Magdelena Luczak, who denies the murder of four-year-old Daniel Pelka, alleged that the child was mistreated by his stepfather, Mariusz Krezolek, from October 2011 until his death in March last year. | Magdelena Luczak, who denies the murder of four-year-old Daniel Pelka, alleged that the child was mistreated by his stepfather, Mariusz Krezolek, from October 2011 until his death in March last year. |
| Luczak, 27, had already told Birmingham crown court on Monday that Daniel died two days after being beaten about the head by Krezolek, who also denies murder. | Luczak, 27, had already told Birmingham crown court on Monday that Daniel died two days after being beaten about the head by Krezolek, who also denies murder. |
| Luczak and Krezolek, 34, are both alleged to have killed Daniel during an "incomprehensible" and escalating campaign of cruelty at their house in Coventry. | Luczak and Krezolek, 34, are both alleged to have killed Daniel during an "incomprehensible" and escalating campaign of cruelty at their house in Coventry. |
| Giving evidence for a second day, Luczak was asked by Krezolek's barrister why she had not taken Daniel to a doctor as he lost weight. | Giving evidence for a second day, Luczak was asked by Krezolek's barrister why she had not taken Daniel to a doctor as he lost weight. |
| Luczak, who came to the UK from Poland in 2006, said: "Because Daniel would always have a lot of bruises. I tried to make it secret, what was happening to him – that is why I didn't go to the doctor's." | Luczak, who came to the UK from Poland in 2006, said: "Because Daniel would always have a lot of bruises. I tried to make it secret, what was happening to him – that is why I didn't go to the doctor's." |
| Krezolek's QC, Nigel Lambert, asked Luczak: "Why on earth would you do that to your son?" | Krezolek's QC, Nigel Lambert, asked Luczak: "Why on earth would you do that to your son?" |
| Speaking through a Polish interpreter, Luczak replied: "I don't know it myself. I don't understand my behaviour. It wasn't me, it was Mariusz, but I knew what was happening. I myself don't understand my actions. I must have loved Mariusz to allow such a thing." | Speaking through a Polish interpreter, Luczak replied: "I don't know it myself. I don't understand my behaviour. It wasn't me, it was Mariusz, but I knew what was happening. I myself don't understand my actions. I must have loved Mariusz to allow such a thing." |
| On Monday Luczak told jurors that her partner tried to strangle her as he twice attacked Daniel in a bedroom and a box room at their home. | On Monday Luczak told jurors that her partner tried to strangle her as he twice attacked Daniel in a bedroom and a box room at their home. |
| Luczak claimed to have witnessed the separate assaults on her son after hearing him screaming on the afternoon of Thursday 1 March last year. The court has heard that an ambulance was not called for Daniel until shortly after 3am on Saturday 3 March. | Luczak claimed to have witnessed the separate assaults on her son after hearing him screaming on the afternoon of Thursday 1 March last year. The court has heard that an ambulance was not called for Daniel until shortly after 3am on Saturday 3 March. |
| Asked by Lambert why she had not told the truth to police after she and Krezolek were arrested, Luczak said: "Because I should have called the police after Mariusz hit Daniel on the head. I should have checked on him. | Asked by Lambert why she had not told the truth to police after she and Krezolek were arrested, Luczak said: "Because I should have called the police after Mariusz hit Daniel on the head. I should have checked on him. |
| "I don't know what I was driven by when I was not telling the truth. I wanted to make it secret, all that took place. I was guilty myself and I shouldn't have allowed Mariusz to treat Daniel like that." | "I don't know what I was driven by when I was not telling the truth. I wanted to make it secret, all that took place. I was guilty myself and I shouldn't have allowed Mariusz to treat Daniel like that." |
| Lambert, who described Luczak's evidence as "nonsense", put it to her that she had acted in a "calculated, manipulative and deceitful way" during the police interviews to cover up her own "terrible deed" in killing Daniel. | Lambert, who described Luczak's evidence as "nonsense", put it to her that she had acted in a "calculated, manipulative and deceitful way" during the police interviews to cover up her own "terrible deed" in killing Daniel. |
| "I did not kill my child," Luczak answered. The trial continues. | "I did not kill my child," Luczak answered. The trial continues. |
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