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Shahena died after ‘punishment’ by members of her family

47Shahena Uddin, found dead at her home last year had “suffered a regime of brutality and extreme punishment” at the hands of her family for years, a court heard today.
The body of Shahena Uddin was found in the bathroom of her house in Leavesden Road, Watford, by paramedics shortly before 9.30am on Saturday, October 11, 2014, after a brother called 999.
The 19-year-old student’s legal guardians, her oldest brother Suhail Uddin and his wife Salma Begum, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on 19th October to stand trial for her murder.
Five more family members, her brothers, Tohel Uddin, Jhuhal Uddin and Jewel Uddin, her sister Rehena Uddin and sister-in-law Laila Begum are also on trial charged with causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.
All seven are also accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
In his opening statement, prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC told the jury that Shahena Uddin had died at the hands of members of her own family.
He said: “She was beaten to death. She probably endured several beatings that night, some in the dining area and some in her own bedroom.
“She was finally placed in the bathroom and an ambulance called.”
The prosecution asserts that before the arrival of the ambulance, family members had concealed blood and vomit in the bedroom and two sets of clothing soiled with faeces and blood had been put in bin bags outside.
Mr Trimmer continued: “Shahena had been badly beaten in the home in the hours before the 999 call. There was a good deal of evidence of head injury. Both sides of her head had been beaten.
“There were severe targeted beatings in particular to her breasts. Probably with fists and with weapons.
“She had been repeatedly struck to her body with a weapon or implement.”
Mr Trimmer said the injuries brought about vomiting while her consciousness was reduced and that Shahena had died being unable to breathe because of her own vomit.
The prosecution claims Shahena was socially isolated and lived in fear of her family.
Mr Trimmer said: “This was a troubled family unit held together by internal discipline of an extreme variety.
“In this household punishments of various types were commonplace. Beatings were commonplace.”
Mr Trimmer said Shahena was punished for eating at the wrong speed or not eating all her food.
Punishments included physical beatings, humiliation and being denied water for prolonged periods.
Mr Trimmer said all punishments were well known in the family. The men of the family were responsible for their delivery.
He described Shahena as a “vulnerable young person” who had suffered abuse and violence at the hands of her own family.
He said: “The regime of brutality and extreme punishment was so deeply embedded and feared that she could not risk the results of any form of complaint to the outside world.”
The youngest member of the family, Shahena’s 17-year-old sister, was hidden from police when they started their investigation.
Sunhail Uddin, 35, of Leavesden Road, Watford, and his wife Selma Begum, 32, of the same address, have been charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Laila Begum, 25, of Grove Road, Romford, Jhuhal Uddin, 33, of Middle Ope, Watford, Jewel Uddin, 27, of Leavesden Road, Watford, Tohel Uddin, 24, of Middle Ope, Watford, and Rehena Uddin, 22, of Leavesden Road, Watford, are all charged with causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The trial continues.