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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Inquiry demand over girl's death | Inquiry demand over girl's death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An MP has called for an inquiry into council monitoring of a seven-year-old girl who may have starved to death. | |
| Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood is demanding an investigation into the city's social services' contact with the family of Khyra Ishaq. | Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood is demanding an investigation into the city's social services' contact with the family of Khyra Ishaq. |
| Khyra died in hospital on Saturday and police are investigating the theory she died because of starvation. | |
| Angela Gordon, 33, and Junaid Abuhamza, 29, have appeared before the city's magistrates charged with neglect. | Angela Gordon, 33, and Junaid Abuhamza, 29, have appeared before the city's magistrates charged with neglect. |
| The pair, believed to be Khyra's mother and stepfather, were remanded in custody until 28 May. | |
| I will be asking the local authority at the first available opportunity to account for their inaction Khalid Mahmood Thorny issue of child protection | |
| Mr Mahmood claimed the youngster had been removed from school by her mother 10 weeks ago. | Mr Mahmood claimed the youngster had been removed from school by her mother 10 weeks ago. |
| He says there should be an inquiry into what action was taken by officials. | He says there should be an inquiry into what action was taken by officials. |
| Mr Mahmood pledged to write to the chief executive of Birmingham City Council. | Mr Mahmood pledged to write to the chief executive of Birmingham City Council. |
| He said: "There are structural issues here within the local authority that need to be addressed. | He said: "There are structural issues here within the local authority that need to be addressed. |
| "I will be asking the local authority at the first available opportunity to account for their inaction. There are lessons to be learned here - we have to be far more stringent with people who don't take their children to school." | "I will be asking the local authority at the first available opportunity to account for their inaction. There are lessons to be learned here - we have to be far more stringent with people who don't take their children to school." |
| 'Can't believe this' | |
| Meanwhile parents dropping children off at Grove School, Handsworth, where Khyra was a pupil, spoke of their shock at her death. | |
| Renata Palczewska, 26, said: "The teacher, when she told me, was almost in tears. She was very upset. She knew the girl. | |
| "The school gave us a letter but they couldn't give us much information. | |
| "I can't believe this could happen, you would expect someone to notice." | |
| Windows and the door of the property are boarded up | |
| West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We can confirm that a seven-year-old girl was taken to hospital on Saturday 17 May, where she was pronounced dead." | West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We can confirm that a seven-year-old girl was taken to hospital on Saturday 17 May, where she was pronounced dead." |
| The statement added: "Her cause of death has not been confirmed at this stage. | The statement added: "Her cause of death has not been confirmed at this stage. |
| "Police are conducting inquiries and a man aged 29 and a woman aged 33 have been charged with neglect and appeared before Birmingham Magistrates on May 19. | "Police are conducting inquiries and a man aged 29 and a woman aged 33 have been charged with neglect and appeared before Birmingham Magistrates on May 19. |
| "They have been remanded to appear again on 28 May. | "They have been remanded to appear again on 28 May. |
| "As proceedings are active, we cannot comment further at this time." | "As proceedings are active, we cannot comment further at this time." |
| A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of this child and our sympathies go to the child's family and friends at this difficult time. | A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of this child and our sympathies go to the child's family and friends at this difficult time. |
| "This death is now the subject of a police inquiry and Birmingham City Council are fully supporting the investigation. | "This death is now the subject of a police inquiry and Birmingham City Council are fully supporting the investigation. |
| "We are therefore unable to make any further comment." | "We are therefore unable to make any further comment." |