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Girl 'died after being starved' Girl 'died after being starved'
(about 1 hour later)
A seven-year-old girl kept prisoner by her mother and her partner died after being starved for weeks or months, a court has heard. A seven-year-old girl kept prisoner by her mother and her partner died after being starved as part of a "punishment regime", a court has heard.
Khyra Ishaq was eventually taken to hospital but died of an infection, Birmingham Crown Court was told.Khyra Ishaq was eventually taken to hospital but died of an infection, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Jurors heard UK doctors had rarely seen such a severe case of starvation.Jurors heard UK doctors had rarely seen such a severe case of starvation.
Khyra's mother Angela Gordon, 34, and Junaid Abuhamza, 30, both of Leyton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, deny murdering Khyra on 17 May last year.Khyra's mother Angela Gordon, 34, and Junaid Abuhamza, 30, both of Leyton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, deny murdering Khyra on 17 May last year.
Prosecutor Timothy Raggatt, QC, told jurors: "It's highly likely that you will find some of what you will hear distressing and disturbing. Khyra's mistreatment was calculated and deliberate. The court heard a lock had been fitted high up on the kitchen door to keep Khyra and five other children away from the food in the home.
It's just as much murder... as if they had shot, stabbed, beaten or strangled Khyra to death Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting It's just as much murder... as if they had shot, stabbed, beaten or strangled Khyra Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting
"The actual means or process which resulted in [Khyra's death] was brought about by a series of actions that were in effect the deliberate and calculated starvation of that little girl over a period, certainly of weeks, and very possibly months." Prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC said: "Mr Abuhamza and Miss Gordon kept control of the key to the kitchen and that meant they were in total control... of the means of access to food."
He said the pair had still murdered Khyra even though she died from an infection because they had intended to cause her really serious harm. After showing the jury photographs of fully stocked kitchen cupboards and a fridge packed with food, he added: "That household was not a household that was short of food, there was ample food in it for everyone.
"The supply of food was controlled, it was controlled by these two [defendants].
"They could, as it were, seal it off from the children and they did, as you will hear."
The court was told Khyra and the five other children in the care of the defendants were occasionally fed porridge, dry bread and fruit.
They would have to eat with their hands on the floor of the small upstairs room they shared.
Mr Raggatt said: "The children were prevented from feeding themselves as they might have done if they were hungry, and hungry they were.
He said if the children were caught stealing food they were punished with "detention" and made to stand outside in the cold, beaten with a cane, or made to overeat until they were sick.
He said the pair had still murdered Khyra, even though she died from an infection, because they had intended to cause her really serious harm.
He added: "It's just as much murder... as if they had shot, stabbed, beaten or strangled Khyra to death."He added: "It's just as much murder... as if they had shot, stabbed, beaten or strangled Khyra to death."
He said Ms Gordon and Mr Abuhamza had betrayed their duty of care for Khyra and five other children. He said Miss Gordon and Mr Abuhamza had betrayed their duty of care.
Mr Abuhamza has admitted five counts of child cruelty while Ms Gordon denies five counts of child cruelty between December 2007 and May 17, 2008. Mr Abuhamza has admitted five counts of child cruelty relating to other children while Ms Gordon denies five counts of child cruelty between December 2007 and May 17 2008.