This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8091656.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Child 'lost 40% of body weight' Child 'lost 40% of body weight'
(about 2 hours later)
A seven-year-old girl who was allegedly starved to death by her mother had lost about 40% of her body weight by the time she died, a court was told.A seven-year-old girl who was allegedly starved to death by her mother had lost about 40% of her body weight by the time she died, a court was told.
Khyra Ishaq's body mass index at the point of her death in May 2008 "ran off the scale" of normal medical charts, Birmingham Crown Court heard.Khyra Ishaq's body mass index at the point of her death in May 2008 "ran off the scale" of normal medical charts, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
Professor Peter Milla said her condition was "extremely unusual". Professor Peter Milla said the girl's condition was "extremely unusual".
Khyra's mother Angela Gordon, 34, and Junaid Abuhamza, 30, both of Leyton Road, Handsworth, deny murdering Khyra.Khyra's mother Angela Gordon, 34, and Junaid Abuhamza, 30, both of Leyton Road, Handsworth, deny murdering Khyra.
'Amazingly thin'
Mr Abuhamza pleaded guilty last week to five cruelty charges relating to other children.Mr Abuhamza pleaded guilty last week to five cruelty charges relating to other children.
Ms Gordon denies the charges of child cruelty, which are alleged to have been committed between December 2007 and 17 May 2008.Ms Gordon denies the charges of child cruelty, which are alleged to have been committed between December 2007 and 17 May 2008.
Prof Milla, an expert in paediatric nutrition with more than 30 years' experience, said medical records showed Khyra had grown and put on weight normally until April 2007, when she weighed 3st 9lb (23kg). 'Amazingly thin'
Prof Milla, a specialist in paediatric nutrition, said medical records showed Khyra had grown and put on weight normally until April 2007, when she weighed 3st 9lb (23kg).
But he said Khyra became "amazingly thin" after suffering dramatic and significant weight loss.But he said Khyra became "amazingly thin" after suffering dramatic and significant weight loss.
It must have been very clear in the week before her death that all was not well Professor Peter Milla
Asked by prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC to comment on the child's condition, Prof Milla said: "In a child with no disease state, that is extremely unusual.Asked by prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC to comment on the child's condition, Prof Milla said: "In a child with no disease state, that is extremely unusual.
'Stealing food'
"I don't think that previously I have ever seen something as marked as that.""I don't think that previously I have ever seen something as marked as that."
The physician said he had seen such weight loss in disease-free children in the developing world, but never before in Britain.The physician said he had seen such weight loss in disease-free children in the developing world, but never before in Britain.
Prof Milla added Khyra's physical state meant she could have been malnourished for a number of months. He said: "In my experience, mothers are usually very concerned when they have any reason to believe that their children are not putting on weight or growing in a normal manner.
"It must have been very clear in the week before her death that all was not well.
"In the few days before her death, the symptoms were such that most mothers would have been dialling 999 or taking her to the accident and emergency department."
Prof Milla said Khyra's physical state meant she could have been malnourished for a number of months.
He said: "Given that she was taken out of school and one of the reasons given was that she was stealing food from other children, the suspicion is that it could have been going on for some considerable while."He said: "Given that she was taken out of school and one of the reasons given was that she was stealing food from other children, the suspicion is that it could have been going on for some considerable while."
Prof Milla told the jury that the child's condition would have been obvious for a number of weeks.
He said: "I think she must have had an inadequate intake over a number of months."
Referring to knowledge gained from studies of IRA hunger strikes, Prof Milla added: "She (Khyra) has lost approximately 40% of her body weight - we know from the Belfast fasters that when you lose that amount of weight, you die."Referring to knowledge gained from studies of IRA hunger strikes, Prof Milla added: "She (Khyra) has lost approximately 40% of her body weight - we know from the Belfast fasters that when you lose that amount of weight, you die."
The prosecution alleges that Ms Gordon and Mr Abuhamza murdered Khyra by starving her "for weeks or possibly months" at her home in Leyton Road. The prosecution alleges Ms Gordon and Mr Abuhamza murdered Khyra by starving her "for weeks or possibly months" at her home in Leyton Road.
The trial continues.The trial continues.