Two face murder charge over 'starved' girl

The mother and stepfather of a seven-year-old girl who allegedly starved to death are to be charged with her murder, the Crown Prosecution Service said today.

In a short statement, a spokeswoman for the CPS said it had authorised West Midlands Police to charge Junaid Abuhamza and Angela Gordon with the murder of Khyra Ishaq, who was found dead at her Birmingham home in May.

"Following a detailed and careful review of the file, a decision has been reached that there is sufficient evidence to charge the two defendants with the murder of Khyra," the spokeswoman said.

Gordon, 33, and Abuhamza, 29, had been accused of "causing or allowing" the death of Khyra, who died after paramedics were called to her home in Leyton Road, Handsworth, in the early hours of 17 May.

The defendants, who lived with Khyra at the address, are scheduled to appear for a directions hearing before the Recorder of Birmingham, Judge Frank Chapman, at the city's Crown Court tomorrow.

Both Gordon and Abuhamza face separate charges of cruelty to five other children, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.