PA
The Old Bailey has heard how the mum and dad of a 10-month-old baby used a JUG to force-feed her solid food until she died.
The jury was told by the prosecution that the little girl had food such as meat and cereals forced upon her through a spout until her death in March, 2010.
She eventually collapsed and died from pneumonia caused by her airways being filled.
The family, who live in East London, cannot be named for legal reasons.
The mother, 31, is a NURSE, and the couple have three other children.
Both parents deny allowing or causing the baby's death through force-feeding.
The court was told that that the baby's mother and 37-year-old father had been giving her solid food since she was six months old. The couple's other children had allegedly also displayed signs of inappropriate feeding and the parents had been warned about the dangers of force feeding
Andrew Edis QC for the prosecution told the jury: "It involved the use of jugs - pouring food into the mouth of the child."
"The spout was placed into the mouth of the child to prevent her closing it when she did not want any more - to prevent her having any choice."
"This is a very sad case. She died because of the method by which her parents chose to feed her at the time she was being introduced to solid food.
"The allegation is one of force-feeding. If you have a child who is distressed and choking, you do not carry on."
The jury was told the little girl was given no choice and the food had overflowed into her lungs.
He added that being a nurse, the mother would have "a degree of extra insight".
"An ordinary mother would think twice or more before using a jug to pour food into the mouth of a child."
The trial was adjourned until Friday.