A man in Tenerife is charged with having let his own mother starve to death on her sick bed.

The body of the 76-year-old victim, which weighed just 25 kilos, was found in a lamentable state of hygiene as well as evident signs of starvation and bed sores from being left in the same position.

The judge immediately ordered that the 39-year-old son be remanded in custody without bail.

A Spokesperson for the Cuerpo Nacional de Policía in Santa Cruz de Tenerife would initially only confirm his arrest and would make no other statement, as the case was in the hands of the duty magistrate.

Police were alerted by other family members informing that the woman had died. A daughter has since requested that the Town Hall cover the costs of the burial as the family has no money.

Upon receiving the alert an ambulance was dispatched and upon finding what state the deceased was in, they brought the matter to the attention of the police.

Since the original arrest, the judge had the daughter-in-law arrested, charged with manslaughter through omission, however, she has since been released pending trial.

(News: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain)