11/07/2008

Couple Charged With Cruelty Offences

The mother and stepfather of a young girl who starved to death have been charged with cruelty to children offences.

Seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq was found dead at her family home in Birmingham where she lived with her five siblings under the age of 16.

Khyra was pronounced dead after being taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital in the early hours of May 17.

Angela Gordon, 33 and Junaid Abuhamza, 29, of Handsworth, have been charged with five counts of cruelty to children.

The couple were already charged with "causing or allowing her death".

They will appear before magistrates on 15 July to face the charges of cruelty to a person under 16.

Hayley Firman, Assistant Crown Prosecutor for Birmingham said "it has been decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge the two defendants with the five additional charges of cruelty, one each in relation to the remaining children of the household".

In May, the couple were remanded at Birmingham Crown Court until 1 September for a plea and case management over the earlier neglect charge.

Khyra's family are still waiting on her body to be released. It is understood that three post mortem examinations have been carried out and police have been waiting for the results of "very sophisticated medical tests".

Birmingham's Vulnerable Children watchdog committee has demanded a report from social services officials to ensure that all proper steps were being taken in the wake of Khyra's death.

See: Mother And Partner In Court Over 'Starvation' Death

(DS)

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