Pair jailed for killing Khyra Ishaq

The mother and stepfather of seven-year-old starvation victim Khyra Ishaq were jailed today for her manslaughter.

Angela Gordon, of Birmingham, got 15 years and her former partner Junaid Abuhamza was jailed indefinitely with a minimum term of seven-and-a-half years.

The pair were cleared of the seven-year-old's murder during a trial at Birmingham Crown Court last month, but convicted of her manslaughter.

Gordon, aged 35, and Abuhamza, 31, admitted child cruelty charges relating to five other children in their care and control, who were also starved and abused.

Khyra died in May 2008 from an infection after months of starvation at her home in Leyton Road, Handsworth.

Gordon and Abuhamza were initially tried for her murder but after a number of weeks, and following psychiatric assessment, prosecutors accepted their not guilty pleas.

Mr Justice Roderick Evans was due to sentence the pair last week but the case was adjourned for him to hear submissions from psychiatrists.

Yesterday, the judge heard evidence about Abuhamza's mental health from a psychiatrist who treated him after his arrest.

Mr Paul Lewis QC, defending Abuhamza, told the court three different psychiatrists were in agreement that the defendant was suffering from schizophrenia in the three months prior to Khyra's death.

Mr Lewis said Abuhamza "was unable to comprehend" that his stepdaughter was dying. He added: "This is a case too, where there has been genuine remorse on the part of the defendant from the moment that he was well enough to appreciate the consequences of what he had done."