Birmingham City Council awaits the outcome of a serious case review following the death of a seven-year-old girl who was starved to death by her mother and stepfather.
The review will now gather pace as the trial into the unlawful killing of Khyra Ishaq, in 2008, ended with the defendants cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.| "It is beyond belief that, in 2008, in a bustling, energetic and modern city like Birmingham, a child of seven was withdrawn from school and thereafter kept in squalid conditions for a period of five months before finally dying of starvation." Judge Mrs Justice Smith |
‘It is of serious concern that the police investigation identified at least 30 individuals … who could have intervened and made a difference.’
Judge Mrs Justice Smith has pointed the finger at the council after it did not take concerns expressed by the child’s school ‘seriously enough’.
‘It is beyond belief that, in 2008, in a bustling, energetic and modern city like Birmingham, a child of seven was withdrawn from school and thereafter kept in squalid conditions for a period of five months before finally dying of starvation,’ she said.
‘In all probability had there been an adequate initial assessment and proper adherence by the educational welfare services to its guidance, Khyra would not have died.’
The council's director for children, young people and families, Tony Howell, has rejected calls for his resignation.
He apologised that the council was unable to save Khyra and said the case had caused a ‘great deal of hard reflection’ for the agencies involved.
Mr Howell added in the two years since the girl’s death, major improvements had taken place in the way that the city protects vulnerable children.
