Kaylea Titford: Man and woman in court accused of manslaughter of disabled teenager
The parents of a disabled teenage girl have appeared in court charged with causing her death by allowing her to become morbidly obese.
Kaylea Louise Titford was aged 16 when she died at her home in Newtown in October 2020.
Her father Alun Titford, aged 44, and mother Sarah Lloyd-Jones, 39, are accused of unlawfully killing Kaylea by gross negligence between March and October that year.
The parents, both of Colwyn, Newtown, are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child.
They appeared before magistrates in Welshpool on Tuesday, where the court was told that they breached their duty of care for the teenager.
It is alleged that between March 24 and October 11 2020 they did not ensure that the teenager's dietary needs were properly met, leading to morbid obesity.
It is also alleged that they did not ensure:
she had adequate exercise
she was in a hygienic condition
she had a safe and hygienic environment
her physical health was maintained
reasonable medical assistance was sought.
The charge said the breach of duty amounted to gross negligence and that negligence was a substantial cause of Kaylea's death.
The pair appeared before Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and stood together in the dock wearing face masks.
They spoke only to confirm their names, ages and address but did not enter any pleas.
Prosecutor Helen Tench asked both defendants to remain on conditional bail and not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.
They will next appear before Mold Crown Court on April 14 2022.
