A CO Antrim husband and wife were told today they will stand trial in the New Year, accused of murdering her five-year-old daughter.
Nadia Zofia Kalinowska died in her Fernagh Drive home in Newtownabbey in December 2019 after sustaining injuries including a fractured skull.
The child's mother Aleksandra Wahab (28) and her 34-year old husband Abdul Wahab appeared at Belfast Crown Court via separate videolinks, where they each denied a total of 14 charges including murdering the youngster.
After confirming she could see and hear the court, Mrs Wahab - who is currently housed in Hydebank - was charged with murdering her daughter in the family home on dates between December 13 and 16, 2019.
When the charge was put to her, the Polish national replied "not guilty." She also denied a charge of causing the death of a child by an unlawful act on the same dates.
In additional, Mrs Wahab was charged with - and denied - six counts of causing grievous bodily harm to Nadia, and six counts of causing a child to suffer physical harm.
The dates of these alleged offences span from July 2019 to the child's death in December.
Her husband Abdul Wahab, who is originally from Pakistan, appeared in court via a videolink with Maghaberry. When the charge of murdering his step-daughter was put to him, he replied 'not guilty.'
He also entered 'not guilty' pleas to the same 13 charges put to his wife.
Both accused have denied murdering and harming the child and have made the case that Nadia's death occurred when she fell down a flight of stairs in the middle of the night.
Mr Justice O'Hara was informed that whilst some medical and expert reports remain outstanding, the case would be ready to proceed in the new year.
After hearing this, the senior judge set the date for trial as January 16, 2023 and said the venue has not yet been determined.
Mr Justice O'Hara listed the case for review at the end of November, and both accused were remanded back into custody.