Couple accused of starving young girl to death admit manslaughter

A COUPLE accused of starving a seven-year-old girl to death admitted her manslaughter yesterday.

Junaid Abuhamza and Angela Gordon entered the pleas in the fourth week of a murder trial at Birmingham Crown Court over the death of Khyra Ishaq.

Gordon’s daughter Khyra died on May 17, 2008, after being taken to hospital from the defendants’ home in Leyton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, in an emaciated condition.

Both defendants denied murder but admitted manslaughter.

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Abuhamza’s plea was accepted and he was found guilty of manslaughter by the jury, after direction from the judge, Mr Justice Roderick Evans.

The prosecution did not accept Gordon’s plea. The 35-year-old remains on trial for murder.

Abuhamza, 30, who pleaded guilty to five cruelty charges at an earlier hearing, will be sentenced at the end of the trial.

Prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC told the court: “In the case of Junaid Abuhamza, the Crown has come to the decision not to proceed further because in the light of the medical evidence as to his mental health that has emerged during this trial, we no longer seek a verdict in this case.

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“As far as Angela Gordon is concerned, the matters remain for the jury’s ultimate decision.”

Khyra Ishaq died after succumbing to an infection. Earlier in the trial, Mr Raggatt told jurors that she was so emaciated at the time of her death that her condition was outside the experience of medical professionals.

Five other children, also in the defendants’ care, were also starved, the prosecution alleges.