Girl 'was punished in cold bath'

A seven-year-old girl allegedly starved to death by her mother and mother's partner was made to sit in a cold bath as a punishment, a court has been told.

In video evidence shown at Birmingham Crown Court, a 12-year-old girl said that she herself had been made to stand in front of a fan in her underwear.

Junaid Abuhamza, 30, and Angela Gordon, 34, both of Leyton Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, deny murdering Khyra Ishaq.

The prosecution said Khyra was starved to death and kept prisoner.

'Miss food'

The court heard the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also in the care of the defendants.

She told a policewoman that children at the house would miss out on food if they were naughty.

She also said that she was struck with a stick and made to stand in front of a fan wearing boxer shorts and a vest.

She added that she and others would also be made to stand outside the house.

The court has heard that Khyra lost up to 40% of her bodyweight and resembled a "concentration camp" victim when she was found.

Earlier this week, the jury was told that Mr Abuhamza and Ms Gordon told children at the house they believed Khyra had been possessed by an evil spirit.

Mr Abuhamza pleaded guilty last week to five cruelty charges relating to other children.

Ms Gordon denies five child cruelty offences, which were allegedly committed between December 2007 and May 2008.

The case has been adjourned until Monday.

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