A Watford man jailed for allowing the death of his vulnerable teenage sister failed to clear his name with a Court of Appeal bid this week.

Shahena Uddin, 19, died at a property in the town in October 2014 after she was beaten black and blue and choked on her own vomit.

Ms Uddin's sister-in-law Salma Begum, of Leavesden Road, Watford, was jailed for life for the murder the following year.

Five siblings, including Ms Uddin's brother Tohel, 25, were convicted of allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

READ MORE: Shahena Uddin murder trial - five siblings guilty of allowing death

Watford Observer:

Facing a six-and-a-half year sentence, Mr Uddin took his case to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn the conviction.

He said there was no evidence on which his sister could be categorised as a "vulnerable adult".

She was not mentally unwell or elderly, his lawyers argued before three senior judges.

But on Wednesday, a month after the case reached court, Lady Justice Hallett dismissed the appeal.

Shahena had been subjected to "long-term bullying and beatings" in the family home, and her brother had a duty to protect her.

Watford Observer:

Shahena Uddin

She had been punished in bizarre ways, her communications with others restricted, and "powerful cultural and family pressure" placed on her.

"She was in a very real and tangible way vulnerable to the violence inflicted upon her and the control exerted over her by her family," the judge added.

"There is nothing undesirable as a matter of law or social policy in holding to account someone in the position of Tohel Uddin.

"He was a member of the same household and had frequent contact with his younger sister. He must have known how she was being treated.

"He knew or ought to have known of the significant risk of serious physical harm to her, and she was killed in an unlawful act in circumstances of the kind he foresaw or should have foreseen.

"Far from taking steps to protect her, at the very least he condoned the treatment of her and, at the worst, he was actively involved in it and/or encouraged it."