Woman claims she 'turned to spells' after being accused of FGM on three-year-old daughter

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A mother claimed she turned to spells after being accused of inflicting female genital mutilation on her three-year-old daughter, London's Old Bailey heard.

The 37-year-old, from Uganda told the court she had never heard of FGM before her child was hurt in August 2017.

The mother was asked about a two-page “court spell”, which contained the names of her children and others involved in the case, including then director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders.

She said the names were included “because cutting your child, that’s not something for any person so, as a mother, I knew I did not do it.”

She added: “It’s not only spells. I went to church praying.”

The woman was asked about items found at her home, including a frozen lime containing a name and the words “I freeze you out of life”.

Natasha Wong QC, defending, asked: “How did you feel about being accused of cutting your daughter.”

The defendant replied: “It’s a big accusation. Someone who would cut a child’s private parts, they’re not human. I’m not like that.”

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is on trial alongside the child’s father, a 43-year-old Ghanaian man.

The court has heard they told police the girl was injured in a fall from a work surface while climbing to get a biscuit.

The defendants, from Walthamstow, east London, deny FGM and failing to protect a girl from risk of genital mutilation on 28 August, 2017.