Three year old murdered

17 February 2010, 09:44 | Updated: 19 February 2010, 09:32

A woman has been charged with murdering a three-year-old girl who was found dead at a house in Birmingham.

Officers discovered the youngster's body, believed to be Alia Jama, at a property in Milverton Road in the Erdington area of the city at 5.30pm on Saturday 13th February.

24 year old Iman Yousef was arrested after the little girl was found. She's due at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 19th February.

Chief Inspector Mark Payne said: "The death of this little girl in suspicious circumstances has led to an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

"Detectives, forensic experts and local officers are working together to establish how the girl died and who is responsible.

"We are working together with the local community, who have been shocked and distressed by this death."

Detectives were awaiting the results of toxicology tests after a post-mortem examination failed to determine the cause of death.

A spokeswoman said a "hazardous substance" was recovered from the address, adding: "Further toxicology and forensic tests are being carried out to see if the hazardous substance caused or contributed to the child's death."