A devout Christian mum 'starved her three-year-old son to death' during a religious fast, a court has heard today.
Olabisi Abubakar is accused of the manslaughter after her malnourished son Taiwo was found dead at the family home in Cathays, Cardiff.
A court heard "deeply religious" Pentecostal Christian Abubakar was fasting from food and water to stave off coronavirus - and allegedly forced young Taiwo to take part.
Police raided their flat by taking the door off of its hinges and found Taiwo dead on a sofa bed with his 42-year-old mum nearby in June 2020.
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said: "Police were called to the address by a fried who become concerned for her welfare."
Mr Heywood said Nigeria-born Abubakar, who was claiming asylum in the UK, was "lying on a sofa bed, she was noticeably thin, malnourished and dehydrated."
He said Taiwo was "emaciated and cold to the touch" adding: "It was clear that Taiwo had been dead for some time."
Mr Heywood said the windows were closed in the flat and there was "a pervading smell of decomposition and faeces - it was dirty and soiled nappies were lying around."
Mr Heywood said Abubakar had "deliberately neglected" Taiwo by "failing to provide food and water to join her in fasting as a religious act."
He said: "Olabisi Abubakar was a deeply religious Pentecostal Christian for whom fasting is a part of her faith."
He said that she would carry out fasts as "an act of devotion but it was stated that children considered too young should not fast."
Cardiff Crown Court heard that "fearful of Coronavirus" and her prayers going unanswered Abubakar caused Taiwo to join her in a fast "without food or water."
Mr Heywood said that when doctors examined Taiwo's body following his death he weighed just 9.8kg.
He said a post-mortem examination carried out by pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter found "no evidence other than malnutrition and dehydration" caused his death.
The court heard she had not been to church since the start of lockdown in March 2020 so carried out prayers and fasts at home asking God for help with coronavirus and her immigration status.
In police interviews Abubakar denied Taiwo had taken part in fasts and insisted he was "eating well" but diary entries found by police seemed to suggest she wrote about him fasting.
She claimed he had last eaten "Weetabix for breakfast and porridge for dinner" on June 26 but she had then passed out before police arrived at her home on June 29.
Mr Heywood added: "Cruelty to Taiwo led to his death."
Nigerian-born Abubakar is also charged with two counts of child cruelty in the time leading up to his death.
She is accused of causing Taiwo "unnecessary suffering or injury to health" before his death.
Jurors were told Abubakar is appearing via videolink from hospital having been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
The court heard the fact she neglected Taiwo was not in dispute, but jurors must decide her state of mind at the time.
She is accompanied by an interpreter and intermediatory to help her understand proceedings.
Abubakar denies manslaughter and two counts of child cruelty at Cardiff Crown Court.
The trial before Mrs Justice Jefford continues.
