28/05/2008

Mother And Partner In Court Over 'Starvation' Death

A mother and her partner have appeared in court accused of "causing or allowing" the death of a seven-year-old child.

Angela Gordon, 33, and Junaid Abuhamza, 29, from Handsworth, stood before Birmingham Crown Court today, in connection with the alleged starvation of Khyra Ishaq.

Kyra was admitted to hospital in the early hours of 17 May where she was pronounced dead.

Ms Gordon and Mr Abuhamza are charged under the 2004 Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act.

Both are accused of committing the offence between May 9 and May 17.

Judge Frank Chapman said: "This is just the beginning of the case against you. The prosecution have about eight weeks to assemble all the evidence they will rely on."

The couple have been remanded until 1 September for a plea and case management hearing.

The Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) has launched a case review into the circumstances of the youngster's death.

The BSCB is a statutory board which has been set up as part of the Every Child Matters reforms, and requires all organisations at work with children to cooperate to keep children safe from harm.

Read: MP Demands Inquiry After Child's Death

(DS)










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