'At risk' review over dead girl

Zoey Anne's death has left her family 'numbed and devastated'

An inquiry is to examine the decision to take a four-year-old girl off the child protection register two years before she was suffocated at home.

The serious case review was ordered after the death of Zoey Anne David whose body was found in her bedroom in Maesglas, Newport, on 19 June.

Her 34-year-old mother was found lying nearby with serious injuries.

She was arrested and is currently being questioned by Gwent Police after being discharged from hospital.

Last week it emerged that Zoey Anne was placed on the child protection register by the Newport Safeguarding Children Board when her family moved to the city from London in 2007.

By the end of that year, the board, which comprises Newport City Council, Gwent Police and the local health board, took the decision to take Zoey Anne off the register.

This review will establish whether there are any lessons to be learnt about the way in which agencies work together to safeguard children Newport Safeguarding Children Board spokesman

A spokesman for the Newport Safeguarding Children Board said a review will see if there are any "lessons to be learnt" from the case.

"Following a meeting of the serious case review sub-group of Newport Safeguarding Children Board, it was recommended that a serious case review should be conducted into this tragic case," he added.

"This review will establish whether there are any lessons to be learnt about the way in which agencies work together to safeguard children."

Last week, Zoey Anne's grandparents, aunts and uncles said they were "numb" and "devastated" by her death.

"We all loved her very much, she was our little princess and she will always be in our hearts," they said in a statement.

"We would like to thank everyone that has left flowers and tributes for Zoey Anne and would appreciate some privacy at this difficult time."

Police were called to Zoey Anne's house in Bideford Close by an ambulance crew, who were treating her mother.

They discovered her body in a bedroom and arrested the mother.

They are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.