Three-Year-Old Girl Killed By Mother

A serious case review by Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) has identified that the death of a three-year-old girl killed by her mother, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, could have been prevented.

The report related to the case of Alia Ahmed Jama from Erdington in the city, who was killed by her mother Iman Omar Yousef in February 2010. Mrs Yousef was subsequently declared unfit to stand trial and was detained in a secure psychiatric unit.

According to the BSCB, concerns were raised that assessments and urgent intervention could have potentially protected the child from harm. Professionals involved in the case were found to focus on appeasing the mother rather than dealing with concerns raised by members of the family and neighbours.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist lawyers represent victims and families whose loved ones have been affected by abuse, as well as those who have suffered as a result of social care failings.

Tom Fletcher, a solicitor with expertise in abuse and social care cases, said: “This incident was a truly shocking tragedy and it is worrying to see that this review has highlighted concerns over how bodies worked together.

“It is however welcome to see that steps have been taken to learn lessons from this appalling case, with local authorities stating that a more joined-up approach has been implemented following these problems.

“Such work should go a significant way to preventing these awful events from occurring again in the future.”