Ms Kumari, who taught Hakeem in her third year at the Nechells Primary E-ACT Academy in the fall of 2017, told a jury his appearance was a “neglect”. He continued: “Dirty, overgrown hair, dirty clothes. You could see from his hands that he had not bathed in I do not know how many days. He was not very careful, in terms of physical health.” The teacher claimed that Hakeem’s mother, Laura Heath, had “already decided” about her, arguing that she did not like the “loud and conflicting” parent because of the boy’s accuracy. Heath, 39, without a pre-determined address, has denied the murder of her son, who attended the Nechells E-ACT Academy. READ MORE: 53 Amazing Birmingham Restaurants We Think You Must Really Try The Coventry Crown court previously heard a nurse who feared Hakeeem was “in danger of dying” a few days before he was found dead at an address on Cook Street, Nechells in November 2017. He asked for Hakeem to be removed from Heath’s care, but – although it was concluded that he was in “serious danger” – he was allowed to stay with his mother. The student – who was said by jurors to have “severe uncontrolled asthma” – was found dead in the garden on November 26, with no signs of medication near him. This afternoon, Ms Kumari said Hakeem’s breathing was “getting worse by the day”. Prosecutioner Matthew Brook told the court on Monday: “The defendant deliberately prioritized her heroin and cocaine addiction and defied the medical advice she received to keep her son’s asthma under control. “Hakim died as a result. He died alone in the early hours of the morning sometime between midnight and 6 in the morning.” Follow our test updates below. We send the court directly to our inbox – sign up for them here
