Teeth of buried boy show extreme decay, jury told

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

A boy who was found buried in a garden had "very extreme" tooth decay before he died, a forensic dentist has said.

Tai and Naiyahmi Yasharahyalah, aged 42 and 43, are accused of causing or allowing the death of their three-year-old son, Abiyah Yasharahyalah, which they deny.

He was found in a back garden in Handsworth, Birmingham, in December 2022.

Giving evidence at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday, Dr Sally Andrews said Abiyah would have suffered "very significant" pain due to the condition of his teeth.

His body was found by police after an investigation into other matters uncovered photos and videos of him on his father's social media accounts.

The court heard when Dr Andrews reviewed his lower and upper jaw as well as his teeth, she found evidence of extensive tooth decay as well as bone abnormalities.

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

The forensic dentist showed images highlighting areas of bone missing from Abiyah's lower jaw to the jury, which she said was caused by a "chronic infection" which would have developed for "many months" before bursting through the bone.

Both his upper and lower jaw were missing a cortical plate, the smooth outer layer of bone, which meant they "lacked structural integrity".

A number of the boy's teeth would have been loose and there was evidence of infection at a number of their roots, Dr Andrews said.

The jury heard the condition of Abiyah's teeth had worsened throughout his life.

In conclusion, Dr Andrews said she believed his condition had been due to a deficiency of Vitamin D, calcium and phosphates.

She said her examination had shown there was "very active" tooth decay and evidence of infection, both acute and chronic, at his time of death.

Police found Abiyah's body after his existence was uncovered during investigations into other matters

Earlier in the trial, the prosecution told the jury Abiyah died between December 2019 and January 2020 and would have been approximately three years and nine months old.

The prosecution claims he was found to have been "severely malnourished", with broken bones, rickets, anaemia, dental disease and stunted growth.

Mr and Mrs Yasharahyalah are also accused of perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.