Parents of Khyra Ishaq to be charged with murder
Wednesday, 13 Aug 2008 12:46
Parents of Khyra Ishaq to be charged with murder
The parents of Khyra Ishaq, who was allegedly starved to death, are to be charged with her murder.
The seven-year-old was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital from her home in Handsworth, Birmingham, on May 17th.
Her mother Angela Gordon, 33, and stepfather, Junaid Abuhamza, 29, are set to be charged with child cruelty, and the Crown Prosecution Service today confirmed that there was also "sufficient evidence" to charge the pair with murder.
Hayley Firman, assistant district crown prosecutor for Birmingham, said: "Following a detailed and careful review of the file, a decision has been reached that there is sufficient evidence to charge the two defendants with the murder of Khyra Ishaq."
Media reports had alleged Khyra died of starvation, while Labour MP Khalid Mahmood previously revealed the couple's children had been removed from school following claims of bullying.
Ms Gordon and Mr Abuhamza are due to appear before Birmingham crown court on Thursday on child cruelty charges.