NSW: Couple deny murdering girl who allegedly starved to death
07 Nov 2008 12:58 PMSYDNEY, Nov 7 AAP - A NSW couple accused of starving their seven-year-old daughter to death have pleaded not guilty to her murder.
The 47-year-old father and 35-year-old mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, today appeared in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney for arraignment.
They both denied the murder of the little girl at the family's Hawks Nest house on November 3 last year.
She allegedly weighed just nine kilograms when her body was found at the home.
Justice Graham Barr set their trial for May 18 next year at the NSW SupremeCourt in East Maitland.
He was told the trial would focus on the issue of causation of the girl's death, as well as matters relating to family history and various relationships.
The parents, who are in custody, did not acknowledge each other as they satin the dock separated by a prison officer.
He was dressed in prison greens, while she wore a black pants suit and white shirt.
AAP msshnjfmbwl =0A