Pair deny female genital mutilation of child, 3

A man and a woman have pleaded not guilty to the female genital mutilation (FGM) of a three-year-old girl.

A Ugandan woman, 36, and a Ghanaian man, 43, from east London, are each charged with FGM and failing to protect a girl from risk of genital mutilation on Aug 28 last year.

The pair appeared at the Old Bailey before Judge Anne Molyneux QC for a hearing to set a timetable for the case.

The woman sat in the dock, while the man appeared via video link from HMP Thameside. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them. The judge set a three-week trial on the FGM charges for Jan 14 and remanded them in custody. A further hearing is due to take place on Oct 9.