California couple charged with torture of kids due in court

A California couple charged with torturing their children by starving, beating and shackling them is due in court.

David and Louse Turpin are scheduled to appear Friday in a Riverside courtroom for a conference about their case.

They have pleaded not guilty to torture and other charges and each is held on $12 million bail.

The couple was arrested last month after their 17-year-old daughter escaped from the family's home in Perris, California, and called 911. Authorities said the home reeked of human waste and evidence of starvation was obvious, with the oldest sibling weighing only 82 pounds.

The case drew international media attention and shocked neighbours who said they rarely saw the couple's 13 children, who range in age from 2 to 29.
 

Authorities said the abuse was so long-running the children's growth was stunted.