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Khyra's mother 'admitted fault' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A mother accused of starving her seven-year-old daughter broke down in tears after her death and sobbed "it's all my fault", a court has heard. | |
Pc Suzanne Anderson, of West Midlands Police, sat with Angela Gordon after Khyra Ishaq was pronounced dead. | |
She told Birmingham Crown Court Ms Gordon also admitted she should have got her daughter medical attention. | |
Ms Gordon and her partner Junaid Abuhamza, of Leyton Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, deny murdering Khyra Ishaq. | |
Pc Anderson told the court Ms Gordon, 34, repeatedly broke down in tears beside her daughter's body and said: "It's all my fault, it's all my fault." | |
'Self-harming' | |
She said she then added: "I should have called the ambulance or the hospital to get her checked over." | |
Another officer who went to the hospital shortly after Khyra's death said Ms Gordon made a number of "unprompted" statements about her and the five other children in her care. | |
I should not have left it, I should be hard on myself Angela Gordon's reported comments after her daughter's death | |
Pc Joanne Potter said Ms Gordon had admitted the children had lost "a lot of weight". | |
Pc Potter then said Ms Gordon, referring to Khyra, said: "She was losing weight slowly, she wasn't that skinny. | |
"I should not have left it, I should be hard on myself." | |
She said that Ms Gordon added: "She [Khyra] was self-harming herself, she was pulling her hair out. | |
"It's all my fault, I don't care what anyone says, it's all my fault." | |
'Searching cupboards' | 'Searching cupboards' |
Earlier the court was told Ms Gordon ignored medical advice to take another child in her care to a dietician after he was spotted stealing food from classmates. | |
She had banned staff at the child's school from feeding him snacks when he was hungry, Dr Suraj Ahmed said. | |
He appeared quite obsessed with food throughout the time of his stay in hospital Dr Simil Bhimsaria | |
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seven years old when Dr Ahmed examined him in January last year. | |
The assistant specialist in community paediatrics told the court: "The school was a little bit concerned because he always appeared to be hungry." | The assistant specialist in community paediatrics told the court: "The school was a little bit concerned because he always appeared to be hungry." |
He added: "He was searching cupboards looking for food as soon as he got into school. | He added: "He was searching cupboards looking for food as soon as he got into school. |
"At lunchtime he would grab food from the other children's plates and eat it and that was a cause for concern for the school staff." | "At lunchtime he would grab food from the other children's plates and eat it and that was a cause for concern for the school staff." |
He said the boy, who weighed 22kg (3st 6lb), was below the average weight for his age. | |
Mother 'not keen' | |
He added: "I pointed this out to [Ms Gordon] and said that he appeared not to be getting enough calories. | He added: "I pointed this out to [Ms Gordon] and said that he appeared not to be getting enough calories. |
"I suggested that he might benefit from seeing a dietician but she was not keen on that. She was against it. | "I suggested that he might benefit from seeing a dietician but she was not keen on that. She was against it. |
"She felt he was getting an adequate amount of calories at home and she didn't want the school to give him any snacks without her permission." | "She felt he was getting an adequate amount of calories at home and she didn't want the school to give him any snacks without her permission." |
Another medic, Dr Simil Bhimsaria , who treated the boy at Birmingham's City Hospital after Khyra's death on 17 May 2008 said he appeared "obsessed" with food. | Another medic, Dr Simil Bhimsaria , who treated the boy at Birmingham's City Hospital after Khyra's death on 17 May 2008 said he appeared "obsessed" with food. |
He said: "He would approach anyone and ask for food all the time. | He said: "He would approach anyone and ask for food all the time. |
"He appeared quite obsessed with food throughout the time of his stay in hospital." | "He appeared quite obsessed with food throughout the time of his stay in hospital." |
Mr Abuhamza, 30, has admitted cruelty charges relating to five children in his care and control. | Mr Abuhamza, 30, has admitted cruelty charges relating to five children in his care and control. |
Ms Gordon denies the child cruelty charges, which are alleged to have been committed between December 2007 and 17 May 2008. | Ms Gordon denies the child cruelty charges, which are alleged to have been committed between December 2007 and 17 May 2008. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |