The parents of a young boy have today been found guilty of causing the death of their son and burying his body in the garden of their Handsworth home in December 2022.
Music producer Tai-Zamarai Yasharahyalah, aged 42, and his wife 43-year-old Naiyamhi, a graphic designer, were found guilty by the jury at Coventry Crown Court.
Their son Abiyah’s body was discovered buried in the garden after he’d died almost three years earlier.
It is believed that young Abiyah died between December 2019 and January 2020 when he would have been approximately three years and nine months old. His death was not registered as the parents believed it was not part of their culture.
His death came to light after detectives reviewed videos showing Abiyah that had been posted in 2016, some entitled “like father, like son” picturing Tai and a young child. But when questioned about their son’s existence, the pair admitted that Abiyah had been unwell and died.
The garden was subject to a forensic archaeological examination and the remains were found, a post mortem took place but the cause of death was undetermined.
Following an examination of his body, he was found to have suffered severe malnutrition, rickets, anaemia, stunted growth, bone malformation and deformity, bone fractures, severe dental decay, poor immunity and a painful condition where bones failed to fuse together following a fracture.
The pair had been evicted from their Handsworth home in early 2022, they went to live in a shipping container in the south west area before moving into a caravan. They were arrested on 9 December 2022 and subsequently charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, neglect and perverting the course of justice.
Senior investigator Detective Inspector Joe Davenport said: “In Abiyah’s short life, his parents failed to provide the most basic of care to him – namely adequate food and medical care. Instead they hid him from the authorities, and prioritised their cultural practices and beliefs over his wellbeing.
“During the trial, we have heard medical experts evidence that Abiyah would have been in significant pain not only with tooth decay but mending bone fractures that had not been medically assessed and properly treated.
“The pair rejected western medicine so Abiyah was never checked in his formative years like most children. His parents claimed that they were not aware of him being malnourished however his body was examined it was found to be severely smaller than he should have been at his age.”
DI Davenport continued: “This has been a heart-breaking case for all those involved in the investigation. I’m glad that justice has been served for Abiyah.”