Guilty: Bradford mum of eight who starved little son to death

MOTHER of eight Amanda Hutton has been found guilty of killing her four-year-old son by starving him to death.
Amanda Hutton at Bradford Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyAmanda Hutton at Bradford Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Amanda Hutton at Bradford Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Hutton, 43, showed no emotion as she was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Bradford Crown Court.

The court heard that Hamzah’s mummified body was found in Hutton’s Bradford bedroom almost two years after he died in December 2009.

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The foreman of the jury made clear that they had convicted her on the basis that she was grossly negligent by not providing adequate nourishment for Hamzah.

Amanda Hutton at Bradford Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyAmanda Hutton at Bradford Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Amanda Hutton at Bradford Crown Court. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Jurors returned their verdict to a packed court three after almost five hours of deliberations.

Hutton was remanded in custody and will be sentenced tomorrow by Judge Roger Thomas QC.

A two-week trial heard that Hamzah’s remains were found by police searching the house on September 21 2011.

The little boy had died on December 15 2009.

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Hamzah’s body was found in the house in the Heaton area of the city in terrible squalor, where five other school-aged siblings were living.

Hutton admitted a charge of child cruelty in respect of each of these children, who were aged between five and 13 in 2011.

Prosecutors said Hamzah most probably died from malnutrition because Hutton neglected him as she concentrated on her alcohol addiction.

Hutton told the jury that she never sought medical advice because she thought he was going through a phase and would grow out of it.

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She said she panicked after his death and only kept claiming child benefit for Hamzah because she was worried that, if she stopped, his body would be discovered.

Hutton claims the appalling conditions police officers found at her home when they finally searched the property only developed after her son’s death.

Hutton has also admitted a charge of preventing the burial of a corpse along with her eldest son, Tariq, 24.

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