Ayesha Ali killing: Mother and lover found guilty

Ayesha Ali was found dead in her bedroom in August 2013 with more than 50 injuries

Ayesha Ali was found dead in her bedroom with more than 50 injuries in east London, in August 2013.A woman and her sadistic lover who created a cyber fantasy world have been convicted of killing her eight-year-old daughter.

The girl's mother Polly Chowdhury, 35, and lover Kiki Muddar were convicted of her manslaughter but cleared of murder.

The Old Bailey heard Muddar, 43, manipulated Chowdhury through a series of fictitious friends on social media.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC told the court Ayesha endured a "background of prolonged abuse" and some "might call it torture" because Muddar had a "disgust" for the child.

'Not delusional'

Muddar, of Green Lane, Ilford, used Facebook updates and text messages to poison Chowdhury against her daughter, the jury was told.

One alias she created was spirit guide "Skyman", whom she used to manipulate Chowdhury into believing Ayesha had "bad blood" and needed to be disciplined to get the "evil spirits" out of her.

But Mr Whittam told the court a psychiatrist found that Muddar had not been delusional in her actions and understood what she was doing.

Polly Chowdhury (left) and Kiki Muddar were convicted of manslaughter by a 10-2 majority

"She was rational in her judgments in having a disgust with Ayesha. She did not like Polly Chowdhury putting Ayesha above her interests," he said.

"However immoral, abhorrent and illegal her judgment, it was rational... there is no question of either defendant having been mad."

The court heard Muddar befriended Chowdhury when they lived next door to each other in 2007 and she got sympathy by pretending she had cancer.