*Girl, 7, starves to death, couple charged*

Published: May 22, 2008 at 12:01 AM

BIRMINGHAM, England, May 22 (UPI) -- A British couple are facing
criminal charges after a 7-year-old girl believed to be their daughter
died of malnutrition, authorities said.

Khyra Ishaq died shortly after police rescued her and five of her
siblings from their Birmingham, England, home, the Daily Mail reported
Wednesday.

It was reported the three girls and three boys were extremely thin and
malnourished when authorities Saturday found them in the filthy home and
took them to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Police said they learned of the starving children from neighbors who saw
them eating bread that was put outside to feed the birds.

A woman and man, thought to be the children's mother and stepfather,
attended court Wednesday on a charge of neglect and were being held in
police custody, the Daily Mail said.

Authorities said they were investigating the girl's death.

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