September 24, 2011

Grim discovery: A police officer stands guard outside the house in Heaton, Bradford, where the decomposed body of a child was discovered.

Police were alerted after a neighbour spotted a child at a dormer attic window and became concerned about the family.

Officers found the remains of three-year-old Hamza Khan in the cellar of the four-storey terrace house. Born in 2005, he was a twin and is believed to have been concealed there as long ago as 2009.

Last night, detectives were questioning his single mother Amanda Hutton, 41, who has eight children, and a 22-year-old man, on suspicion of neglect.

The family is believed to have been known to social services. Hamza also had two grown-up brothers, aged 22 and 20, who do not live at the house in Bradford.

Last night, one of them, Tariq Khan, said: 'I have only just found out about the death of a baby in my family and my mum has been arrested. I am trying to take it all in.'

A floral tribute left at the house by the boy's father Aftab Khan, who does not live there, read: 'Hamza. you will always be in my heart. I will always love you forever. Dad. X x x x x x.'

More flowers and a teddy bear were also tied to a tree in the front garden, with a card reading: 'RIP Hamza, sleep tight little Angel.'

Neighbours described Miss Hutton, a non-Muslim, as a recluse but said they saw her children going to school and playing in the house.

The youngsters, who were taken to school by their older brother, were often seen half-dressed and waving from windows.

Miss Hutton moved into the stone-built mid-terrace house, which overlooks the Heaton Tennis Club, about two years ago.

Former neighbour Qaisar Rafiq, 39, who knew Miss Hutton for ten years before she moved into her new house, believes she struggled after the death of her mother.

'Amanda was a lovely woman, very caring to her children, but she changed after her mum died,' he said.

'She had eight children but coped until the death of her mum. Before she used to cook and clean and look after her kids, including the twins and the little girl.'

Another neighbour said she was a 'virtual recluse'.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'Amanda was quite friendly when she moved in a couple of years ago but something changed.

'The kids were all so lovely. I used to see the twins dressed in just a vest and nappies and they would wave at me from inside.

'One of the boys always seemed to wear the same clothes.'

Another local resident George Smith, 56, said: 'Amanda kept herself to herself after she  moved here.

'The curtains were always drawn and the Venetian blinds down as long as I can remember, but the kids seemed to go to school as normal and I would see her coming and going by taxi.

Tribute: Flowers and a teddy bear have been placed outside the home where the body of a young boy was discovered

'One of the mothers in the street was concerned when she saw one of the children at the attic window.

'The body of one of the children was found in the cellar, that is where the dead child was found.

'It must have been there for some time and whilst the brothers and sisters still lived in the place. Amanda had some grown-up children who lived elsewhere but she lived there with the youngest ones. I never saw a dad around.'

Yesterday a woman police officer stood guard outside the house as scenes-of-crime officers in white protective suits continued a detailed examination inside.

Last night, Bradford Council leader Ian Greenwood said: 'Clearly this is a terrible tragedy.

'The discovery of this child's body has been upsetting and shocking for all of us. The council's first priority has been to make sure the other children in the family are safe and cared for.  

'The police are keeping us fully informed and we will continue to work closely with them as the investigations continue.'

Kath Tunstall, strategic director for Bradford Children's Services, said: 'Over the years the family have received services from a range of agencies, as do many other families across the country. An independent investigation known as a Serious Case Review will be held as is the standard procedure when there is a death of a child, which is always a tragedy.'

Last night, a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of death.

'Indications were that the child had been dead for some time.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2041013/Body-Hamza-Khan-Bradford-cellar-years-family-lived-upstairs.html