Sanam Navsarka murder trial: Toddler terrified of accused

Jan 20 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TODDLER Sanam Navsarka was terrified of the man accused of her murder, a court heard.

The two-year-old “hated” Subhan Anwar, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Anwar and his partner, Sanam’s mother Zahbeena Navsarka, are charged with murdering the girl at their home at Riddings Road, Deighton, on May 8 last year.

The couple, both 21, deny the charge.

Navsarka has admitted an alternative charge of failing to protect Sanam.

Anwar denies a charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The jury yesterday heard from their neighbour, David Lawrence.

Asked what Sanam thought of Anwar, Mr Lawrence said: “She hated him in my opinion.

“She was terrified of him.”

Mr Lawrence told the court he would hold Sanam and she would scream if he tried to hand her to Anwar.

He said: “That child didn’t know who I was. I was a stranger to her and she shouldn’t have come to me over somebody she already knew. But when I went to give her back to Subby (Anwar), she didn’t want to go to him.”