Girl death accused admits cruelty

A man accused of starving his partner's seven-year-old daughter to death pleaded guilty to five counts of child cruelty today.

Junaid Abuhamza, who denies the murder of Khyra Ishaq, admitted cruelty charges relating to five other children during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.

Abuhamza, 30, is expected to go on trial tomorrow alongside Khyra's mother, 34-year-old Angela Gordon.

The defendants, of Leyton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, are both alleged to have murdered Khyra, who was pronounced dead after paramedics were called to her home in May last year.

Gordon denies murder and five counts of child cruelty.

A potential pool of jurors was chosen today and a 12-member panel is expected to be sworn in to try the case tomorrow morning.