A husband and wife’s appeal against their conviction of killing their baby daughter was adjourned so evidence could be provided by the couple’s former lawyer.

Mark Pettingill represented Maatkari Tamerry and her husband Amenemhat Tamerry when they were convicted of the manslaughter of their ten-month-old daughter A-Maya three years ago. The couple are currently appealing the decision in Supreme Court. Yesterday, Amenemhat Tamerry’s new lawyer, William Taylor QC, suggested Mr. Pettingill had not “diligently prepared” for the trial by arming himself with the necessary knowledge to challenge some of the witnesses.

Appeal Court President Justice Edward Zacca ordered court staff to contact Mr. Pettingill so that he could provide legal documents dating back to before the trial began. The case is scheduled to resume today. Last week, Mr. Taylor’s colleague Patricia Harvey said Mr. Pettingill had ignored Amenemhat Tamerry’s wishes at the original trial by failing to contact a UK-based forensic pathologist to examine the evidence.

A-Maya died in hospital on March 1, 2001, due to her severe state of dehydration and malnutrition. Maatkari Tamerry was sentenced to one year in jail, with three years of probation, and was released in March 2005. Amenemhat Tamerry was jailed for five years.