News Opinion

Failing Khyra

MPAC UK, United Kingdom, Sunday 1 June 2008

MPACUK Comment: Yet another child dies in Britain in scenes one would expect to have read about from the developing world or the potato famine. Khyra Ishaq, a seven year old, starved to death in Birmingham in 2008. This story should shock us all. Of course her parents are the prime suspects but the failing of young Khyra goes further. Where were the social services for example? Tragically Khyra is not the first child to perish through lack of action by professionals paid to protect them. An old African saying goes “it takes an entire village to raise a child” and this is true in any country. What were her neighbours doing? Her extended family? How could her abuse go unnoticed? Her death shames us all.

Family of Khyra Ishaq are “pulling together”

THE extended family of a seven-year-old girl who died after allegedly being starved at her home are “pulling together” as they come to terms with her death, a relative said.

Khyra Ishaq was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital from her mother’s home in Handsworth, Birmingham, in the early hours of May 17.

Her cousin spoke of the family’s devastation outside Birmingham Crown Court yesterday where Khyra’s mother and partner appeared via video link for a brief hearing.

Angela Gordon, 33, and her partner Junaid Abuhamza, 29, who lived together with Khyra and her siblings in Leyton Road, Handsworth, are accused of “causing or allowing” Khyra’s death between May 9 and May 17 contrary to section five of the 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act.

Gordon and Abuhamza were not required to enter a plea at yesterday's 10-minute hearing, and spoke only to confirm that they understood the charges against them.

A plea and case management hearing has been scheduled for the pair on September 1.

Police are still awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination on Khyra’s body, but sources have said the youngster is believed to have died of starvation.

Speaking outside court, Khyra’s cousin, Sydonia, said she found it impossible to believe a child could starve “in this day and age”.

Sydonia, 19, who did not wish to give her surname but said she was a niece of Khyra’s father, said the family had not been informed of the time of today’s hearing, causing them to miss it.

She said: “It’s horrible, I can’t believe we’ve missed the court case. No one ever involved us in what was going on.

“We had to come here and be told again by the press what was going on, for the second time. It’s horrible.”

She said that the family was “pulling together” in the wake of Khyra’s death, adding: “The family are strong.

“It’s been hard at the same time, but because we are a strong family we are pulling together, trying to get through it and comfort each other.

“We only found out (about Khyra’s death) last week, Wednesday, when my mum found out.

“Some of us are still in shock, some of us are taking it straight away. There are different reactions.

“We just have to be there you know, when it kicks in. That is the type of family we are.”

“We’ll be all right, we’ll all stick together. It’s going to be hard though.”

Khyra’s death prompted criticism of Birmingham City Council, which was branded “heartless” by a local Labour MP Khalid Mahmood.

He accused the council of taking a "head-in-the-sand approach" and said it needed to do more to reassure the local community.

On Friday, the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board met to discuss the case, subsequently launching a serious case review.

A Birmingham City Council official said: "A serious case review will always be conducted when a child dies and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor.

"The death of Khyra Ishaq is however the matter of a criminal and coroner’s investigation and therefore the BSCB will not impede or compromise these investigations."

Pupils and teachers at Khyra’s school, Grove Primary School, in Handsworth, are being supported by city council psychologists, the council said. with a spokesman adding: "As part of the formal processes, each service involved in child protection, both within the council and other public agencies, will be carrying out an internal management review."