Mum charged with manslaughter after son, 7, found dead outside house in cold

Hakeem Hussain, seven, was found dead outside a home on the morning of November 26, 2017 (Picture: BPM)

A mum has been charged with manslaughter after her seven-year-old son was found dead outside in the cold four years ago.

Hakeem Hussain was found by paramedics outside a house in Nechells, Birmingham, on the morning of November 26, 2017.

Emergency services discovered the young boy at around 7.30am but he had suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be saved.

His mother Laura Heath, 39, has now been charged with manslaughter and four counts of cruelty to a child.

She will appear before Birmingham Magistrates tomorrow.

Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Complex Casework Unit, Mark Paul, said: ‘Following the death of seven-year-old Hakeem Hussain in Birmingham in November 2017, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised West Midlands Police to charge Laura Heath with one count of manslaughter and four counts of cruelty to a child.

‘The CPS authorised charges following careful consideration of all the evidence presented to us by the police as a result of their investigation.

Hakeem was described as ‘the most beautiful little boy’ by his headteacher (Picture: BPM)

The little boy was found by paramedics outside a home in Nechells, Birmingham (Picture: BPM)

‘The alleged offences occurred between 12 April 2017 and 26 November 2017.’

Hakeem was a Year 3 pupil at Nechells E-ACT Academy school – just yards from where he was found.

Headteacher Julie Wright said at the time: ‘Hakeem was a most beautiful little boy, a great friend to many staff and children with a wicked sense of humour and an infectious giggle.

‘He was a warm and generous-hearted soul who was talented across many areas of the curriculum but especially so in music and the arts.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.