Dead girl's mother failed to help

Sanam Navsarka died in May 2008 after a long period of suffering

A mother admitted failing to protect her two-year-old daughter as she and her partner went on trial accused of injuring the girl before she died.

Zahbeena Navsarka, 21, of Riddings Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, is charged with her partner Subhan Anmwar of murdering Sanam Navsarka last May.

Navsarka pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court to an alternative charge of failing to protect the child.

The girl had suffered more than 100 injuries before she died, jurors heard.

Julian Goose QC, prosecuting, told the court that Navsarka and Anwar were both responsible for Sanam's murder.

Girl punished

He said that whether it was "one or the other who actually inflicted the injuries, by doing nothing to help or save her over a four-week period up to her death amounted to encouragement and support for all of the violence that took place."

"They were, we say, both in it together".

Mr Goose said: "Sanam had been in a great deal of pain and distress over a long period leading up to her death.

"By the time that the 999 call was made on May 8 Sanam had stopped walking, she had difficulty breathing and she had two fractured legs and both of her arms had been fractured."

The jury heard how Anwar, who was not Sanam's father, would punish the young girl by putting her in a dark cupboard and neighbours described hearing him swear at her.

The trial continues.