THE mum of a seven-year-old girl who died after allegedly being starved at her home appeared in court via video link today.

Angela Gordon, 33, and her partner Junaid Abuhamza, 29, are both accused of "causing or allowing" the death of little Khyra Ishaq.

The pair, who lived together with Khyra and her five siblings in Handsworth, Birmingham, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court charged with the offence contrary to section five of the 2004 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act.

Evidence

They are formally accused of committing the offence between May 9 and the date of Khyras death, May 17.

The defendants were not required to enter a plea at todays ten-minute hearing, and spoke only to confirm that they understood the charges against them.

A plea and case management hearing has been scheduled for the pair on September 1.

The Recorder of Birmingham, Judge Frank Chapman, told Gordon and Abuhamza: "This is just the beginning of the case against you.

"The prosecution have about eight weeks to assemble all the evidence they will rely on."

The process will take a little longer than usual because of the number of experts that will need to be consulted, the judge added.

Gordon and Abuhamza were remanded in custody when they appeared before magistrates in Birmingham two days after Khyras death.

The seven-year-old was pronounced dead in hospital after cops found her at Gordon's home in the early hours of May 17.

A serious case review has been launched by the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board into the circumstances of the death.