Mum charged with her baby daughter's murder

A mother has been charged with the murder of her 17-month-old daughter, with the girl's grandmother accused of child cruelty and allowing the death.

Faiza Hassan, 36, of Dudley, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday where in addition to murder she was accused of child cruelty towards the girl and eight counts of wounding with intent.

She was remanded in custody ahead of her next appearance at the same court set for 9 October.

Hassan's mother, Sahra Hassan, aged 61, of Walsall, also appeared and was conditionally bailed ahead of her next appearance on the same date.

Police were called to an address in Dudley by paramedics at about 17:20 GMT on 9 April 2023, but the girl - not named on Thursday - was pronounced dead later the same day.

A post-mortem examination established that she had died after suffering a number of injuries, the West Midlands force said.

The wounding charges faced by Faiza Hassan pertain to a period between 1 November 2022 and 9 April 2023, according to police, as do the cruelty charges faced by both women.

Faiza Hassan is also accused of cruelty to another child between the same dates.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.