How did a boy starve to death in 21st century England?

[tommy.irene]

 3:46PM, THU 3 OCT 2013 MUM GUILTY OF KILLING STARVED SON

How did a boy starve to death in 21st century England?

Amanda Hutton was convicted of manslaughter today at Bradford Crown Court. Photo: Police Handout

In his opening statement the prosecutor asked: "How had a child starved to death in 21st century England?"

Today's guilty verdict in Amanda Hutton's manslaughter trial provides an answer.

Hamzah's mother failed in her duty to feed and care for her son and that is how she killed him.

"Amanda Hutton alone is responsible for his death," said the policewoman in charge of the investigation.

But the case does raise wider questions and concerns about the role of those involved in child protection in Bradford.

Hamzah Khan's mummified body was found by police in 2011after he had starved to death. Credit: Handout

So much so that Bradford Safeguarding Children’s Board is currently conducting a Serious Case Review into the case. No doubt asking if opportunities to intervene and rescue Hamzah from his mother were missed.

Amanda Hutton cut a pathetic and miserable figure in court; too drunk to take the witness stand on Monday. She was the victim of years of domestic abuse from her partner, Hamzah's father.

Police visited her home eight times during Hamzah's short life to investigate incidences of domestic violence, and one question that their frequent visits raises is: Was information police had about the family shared sufficiently with social workers and doctors?

[bankhaunter]

There have always been serious incidents that were a result of a number of lesser ones and where each one of those slipped through the net.

It may be that there was a failure to share information though I think where child protection is concerned much of that sharing is now mandatory, however that doesn't mean sometimes someone fails.

[upthecreekyetagain]

A truly horrific case with just one cause - a totally callous parent who is now being punished for her crime.

How many children die all over the world, not because their parents are like this woman but because there is just not any food for the parents to feed them.

How can any child be allowed to die from starvation in the 21st century?

[bankhaunter]

How can any child be allowed to die from starvation in the 21st century?

A good question and it is often not a case of there not being any food available but a lack of money to buy it, that can apply to large groups of people.

[blackburn_stevie]

How come there is no talk about prosecuting her partner?

Was he incapable of opening a can of beans? Did he not know how to make toast? Was it against his rules to go to the local shop and buy the appropriate food for this poor kid?

[bankhaunter]

I suspect that legally her partner had no responsibility for the child.

Whether or not they had any moral responsibility in the same way that any adult seeing a child in danger might have, is a different matter.