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Hamzah Khan's mummified body found after 'vile smell' noticed | Hamzah Khan's mummified body found after 'vile smell' noticed |
(35 minutes later) | |
The mummified body of a four-year-old boy was found in his mother's bedroom after police noticed a "vile smell of filth" at the house, a court has heard. | The mummified body of a four-year-old boy was found in his mother's bedroom after police noticed a "vile smell of filth" at the house, a court has heard. |
PC Jodie Dunsmore said she also saw dead flies on a window ledge after calling at Amanda Hutton's house in Bradford in September 2011. | PC Jodie Dunsmore said she also saw dead flies on a window ledge after calling at Amanda Hutton's house in Bradford in September 2011. |
She told Bradford Crown Court Ms Hutton refused to answer the door for days but eventually did with a "look of fear". | She told Bradford Crown Court Ms Hutton refused to answer the door for days but eventually did with a "look of fear". |
Social services were called and Hamzah Khan's body was found later that day. | Social services were called and Hamzah Khan's body was found later that day. |
Ms Hutton, 43, denies manslaughter. | Ms Hutton, 43, denies manslaughter. |
Matted hair | Matted hair |
PC Dunsmore, who was a community support officer at the time, said she knew "something was definitely not right" when she called at the house to investigate a neighbour's complaint about rubbish. | PC Dunsmore, who was a community support officer at the time, said she knew "something was definitely not right" when she called at the house to investigate a neighbour's complaint about rubbish. |
She told the jury she knocked on the door again and again, over a number of days, but got no reply. | She told the jury she knocked on the door again and again, over a number of days, but got no reply. |
PC Dunsmore said she became more suspicious when she noticed a large number of flies on the window ledge and a terrible smell coming through the letter box. | PC Dunsmore said she became more suspicious when she noticed a large number of flies on the window ledge and a terrible smell coming through the letter box. |
She said after at least five visits she and a colleague threatened to kick in the door, despite having no such legal power as community support officers. | She said after at least five visits she and a colleague threatened to kick in the door, despite having no such legal power as community support officers. |
PC Dunsmore said at that point Hutton opened the door and looked "dreadful". | PC Dunsmore said at that point Hutton opened the door and looked "dreadful". |
"Her hair was all matted and she was looking very unkempt," the officer said. | "Her hair was all matted and she was looking very unkempt," the officer said. |
"She had a woollen jumper on and it appeared flies were coming off her jumper. | "She had a woollen jumper on and it appeared flies were coming off her jumper. |
"She looked like she was going to throw up. She had a look of fear on her face." | "She looked like she was going to throw up. She had a look of fear on her face." |
PC Dunsmore said Hutton would not let her in. | PC Dunsmore said Hutton would not let her in. |
"There was a vile smell of filth radiating from the door. | "There was a vile smell of filth radiating from the door. |
"I'd not even got to the end of the path before I'd rung social services." | "I'd not even got to the end of the path before I'd rung social services." |
Rotting food | |
The jury heard Hamzah was found in a cot in his mother's bedroom later that day, when police officers arrived. | The jury heard Hamzah was found in a cot in his mother's bedroom later that day, when police officers arrived. |
One of those officers, PC Jane Lax, said she was "overcome by emotion" at some of the things she saw in the four-bed terraced house. | |
She described how she attempted to get to the cellar through the kitchen but was affected by the smell coming from ankle-deep rubbish, including rotting food and vodka bottles. | |
"I can recall being able to taste the smell in the house," she told the court. | |
"At the kitchen door the smell became overwhelming. | |
"As I got to the top of the cellar stairs I began to retch. I had to leave the property at that time." | |
PC Lax said she was sat in a police car with Ms Hutton when she received a call saying her colleague had found Hamzah's body. | |
The officer said Ms Hutton closed her eyes and put her head down as she overheard the officers' conversation. | |
Prosecutors claim Hamzah died in December 2009 because he was starved to death. Ms Hutton has claimed he died of natural causes. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |