Hazmi Majid, 36, husband of the babysitter, nodded when the charge was read to him before magistrate Fadzilatul Isma Ahmad Refngah, indicating he understood the charge.

However, no plea was recorded from the accused.

The man, who is alleged to have physically and sexually abused 11-month-old Nur Muazara Ulfa Mohammad Zainal, or Zara, was charged with causing her death.

The offence was allegedly committed at a unit in Sri Cempaka Apartment, Jalan 6/3, Seksyen 16, Bandar Baru Bangi, near here, between 10.30am and 1.30pm on Nov 7.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the mandatory death sentence.

The accused is expected to be charged again in the Sessions Court, here next week under Section 377CA of the Penal Code on two counts of inserting an object into the baby’s private parts and anus.

His wife, who was the babysitter to Zara, was released on bond and will be a prosecution witness in the case.

It was previously reported that Zara died after being physically and sexually abused by the babysitter’s husband.

The victim’s mother was earlier informed that the infant was sent to the Serdang Hospital in Selangor by the couple who claimed that the child had choked on a piece of apple.

However, further medical examination revealed that Zara had tears on her hymen and anus, and the post-mortem report stated the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and skull.

The babysitter and her husband were subsequently arrested.