Pair evicted before baby's body found, court hears

Tai and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah are accused of allowing or causing the death of their three-year-old son, Abiyah

A couple accused of child cruelty after their son was found buried in a back garden were asked to leave temporary accommodation over welfare concerns, a court has heard.

Tai Yasharahyalah, 42, and his wife Naiyahmi, 43, are standing trial accused of causing or allowing the death of their three-year-old son, Abiyah Yasharahyalah.

He was found in the garden of their former home in Birmingham, in December 2022, years after his death.

A jury heard after moving out of the city, the couple had been living in a converted shipping container in Glastonbury until concerns were raised with authorities, who began an investigation.

Coventry Crown Court was told on Monday that Abiyah's existence was only then discovered.

The pair, who were homeless at the time, had been invited to live in a shipping container that had been converted into accommodation in Glastonbury in spring 2022.

Chris Black, the owner of the Zig Zag building, an arts and crafts warehouse that has a number of temporary accommodation containers, told the court the couple's home had electricity and basic lighting, but did not have running water, a toilet or windows.

Communal facilities were available, he added.

The shipping container homes were on land run by the Zig Zag building in Glastonbury

The owner told the trial he asked the couple to leave at the end of October after concerns were raised by other residents.

After rumours spread through the local community, specialist homelessness and rough sleeping nurse Denise Newman attempted to visit in November.

Mrs Yasharahyalah appeared to have a significant disability and could only walk "very slowly", while her husband was only able to move as a "shuffle", Ms Newman said.

After moving to a nearby caravan, the couple were continuously confrontational and refused help when they were approached on a number of occasions by the authorities, the jury heard.

Abiyah is believed to have been buried in the garden from January 2020 to December 2022

Photos of Abiyah were spotted on Mr Yasharahyalah's social media accounts by authorities investigating other matters.

The couple were arrested after admitting Abiyah was dead.

His body was exhumed in December 2022 from a garden on Clarence Road in Handsworth, from which the couple had been evicted earlier that year.

Both defendants deny neglect, causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.