Three-year-old son of vegan couple who was discovered buried of their again backyard two years after he died suffered ‘extreme malnutrition’ earlier than he handed away, court docket instructed

The three-year-old son of a vegan couple who was found buried in their garden two years after he passed away suffered ‘severe malnutrition’ before his death.

The skeletal remains of Abiyah Yasharahyalah were discovered at a rented property in Handsworth, Birmingham, in December 2022.

His parents Tai-zamarai, 42, and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, 43, stand trial at Coventry Crown Court where they deny causing or allowing the death of a child. 

They have also pleaded not guilty to wilful neglect, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice.

Parents Tai and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah (pictured) are accused of causing or allowing their son’s death, alongside neglect, cruelty and perverting the course of justice. They have pleaded not guilty

The skeletal remains of the toddler were found buried in a Handsworth garden in December 2022. Pictured: Police standing near the property in Handsworth

Abiyah was believed to have been three years and nine months old when he died – nearly two years before he was discovered in a grave at Clarence Road. 

An ongoing trial today heard experts could not ‘safely’ conclude his cause of death, due to the absence of organs, tissue or bodily fluids which had decomposed.

Forensic pathologist Dr Lockyer, who drew together the opinions of several experts, said it was not possible to ascertain a cause of death as they could not carry out the usual examinations on the boy’s remains.

His parents, who allegedly followed a ‘strict vegan’ diet, claimed Abiyah died after suffering from an illness, such as the cold or flu, which they also had around the same time.

 If he did succumb to such an infection, severe malnutrition would have ‘more than minimally contributed to his death,’ Dr Lockyer said.

Abiyah’s severe malnutrition, the expert also confirmed, would have impacted on the ‘health and integrity’ of his immune system. 

It would have increased his susceptibility to ‘succumb to infection’ and would have ‘given rise to an increased risk of unexpected or severe complications of infection, including death’, he confirmed to jurors.

An ongoing trial today heard experts could not ‘safely’ conclude his cause of death, due to the absence of organs, tissue or bodily fluids which had decomposed. Pictured: Police attending in Handsworth, Birmingham

‘Once an infection took hold, his body wouldn’t respond in the same way someone else’s would respond to that infection and therefore, he could easily become overcome by the infection severity,’ added Dr Lockyer.

Children’s immune systems are more susceptible to such infections than adults as they are still developing, he said, adding that they are therefore ‘more likely to die’ as a result. His parents claim Abiyah died in January 2020.

Today, the court heard Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah had changed both her first and last name from ‘Donna Rowe’ after meeting her now-husband. 

The court heard she ‘dressed differently’ and ‘appeared slimmer, or leaner’ since meeting Tai-zamarai Yasharahyalah.

Giving evidence, her half-sister of the same father, Julie Graham told the court they did not grow up together, but reconnected later in life as teenagers, attending church with family on a ‘one off occasion’.

‘I think she was religious in her own way. She was very enthusiastic about God. That was a common interest that we shared,’ she told jurors. ‘

She worked in River Island for many, many years and we would go and say ‘hi’ every now and again. At that time it was very periodically if me and my sister were in town, we would go in.’

Later, they bumped into Donna and her then fiancé, Tai-zamarai Yasharahyalah at a music festival held in Handsworth park. 

The next time she saw them was with her grandma as they attended the couple’s wedding, followed by a reception at their home in Handsworth.

Asked about the food, she told the jury: ‘We went to their house where they put some food on for their guests. 

I just remember there was no meat there and it was vegetables, it was nice food, just no meat.’

In November 2016, Mrs Graham had made a referral to NSPCC after receiving information from their grandma, the court heard. 

There was no further contact with Donna, save for two occasions where she saw or bumped into her in the following years.

However, she confirmed to the court their lack of contact was due to ‘fizzling’ rather than any other reason. She told the court: ‘I bumped into her in a shopping precinct. She had a little boy with her and I remember he was on a little trike.

‘I called out to her and I called ‘Donna’ and she said ‘no, it’s [Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah] and disappeared into the lift with him. He appeared fine, he was happy riding his trike, she seemed fine and was guiding him. I never saw her again after that.’

The trial continues.