Starved to death: Girl, 7, who ate scraps for birds
A GIRL of seven has starved to death in what appears to be an appalling case of neglect.
Neighbours say Khyra Ishaq was so hungry she even scavenged for stale bread left on a bird table.
Her five siblings, aged between four and 12, are believed to now be in hospital. They are all said to be undernourished.
Their mother, Angela Gordon, 33, and her partner 29-year-old Junaid Abuhamza, who is not the children’s father, have been charged with neglect and remanded in custody.
Khyra was taken from the family home in Handsworth, Birmingham, to the city’s children’s hospital before dawn on Saturday.
Doctors pronounced her dead after desperate attempts to revive her failed.
Her sisters, aged four and 11, and brothers aged eight, nine and 12, are understood to be receiving treatment in the same hospital.
Sources last night said Khyra died from a lack of food, although West Midlands Police refused to confirm starvation as the cause.
Local MP Khalid Mahmood last night criticised failings by the social services department.
The MP for Perry Barr revealed that the family had been visited by an educational social worker in the past 10 weeks following allegations of bullying that led to the children being removed from school.
But there was no follow-up visit, and the allegations appeared not to have been pursued, he said.
She was a very nice, wonderful girl, full of life and always seemed very positive.
“This is a complete and utter failure in the delivery of children’s services,” said Mr Mahmood.
“This is a huge incompetence and an amazing dereliction of duty. Things should not have been allowed to get to this stage. It beggars belief, especially when an education services social worker has been here.”
According to records the children’s father is Abu Ishaq, formerly known as Delroy Francis.
His sister, Valerie Frances, was told of her niece’s death by reporters when she arrived at the house.
She said she did not know where her brother was or whether he knew his daughter had died.
A neighbour said: “We knew they were going through some trouble about a year ago.
“Before that we used to see the children and they looked happy and normal.
“But after that we didn’t see them. They seemed like normal, happy kids, but then they disappeared. The house wasn’t very well kept. It’s not the cleanest of places.”
Mohammed Khalil, who also lives nearby, said he had not seen the children for months.
“The children’s father, he didn’t live there,” he said. “He moved out. I think there was another man living there. I saw him a couple of times.”
Another neighbour, Nadine Isorinne, 26, said the family moved in about five years ago.
She said: “The mum was a very friendly lady and we used to talk to each other all the time. She would bring the kids over for birthday parties. I can’t believe this.”
Her husband, who did not wish to be named, said forensic teams had been at the house since the weekend and had taken away carpets and mattresses for testing.
He said: “Khyra was a strong and active girl when I saw her.
“She was a very nice, wonderful girl, full of life and always seemed very positive.
“She was always carrying and taking care of the other children.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of this child and our sympathies go to the child’s family and friends.
“This death is now the subject of a police inquiry and Birmingham City Council are fully supporting their investigation.
“We are therefore unable to make further comment.”
Gordon and Abuhamza were remanded in custody by Birmingham magistrates on Monday following their arrest on Saturday.
They are due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court next Wednesday.
