Crown Prosecution Service issues statement over tragic death of girl, 11, punched by her brother

The Crown Prosecution Service has issued a statement after a coroner ruled a girl aged 11 died after she was punched by her older brother. The CPS said two expert medical reports were 'vital to this case' and that they showed 'there was not sufficient evidence to conclude that the actions of the suspect led to the death'.

Falaq Babar - who dreamed of becoming a lawyer - was punched in a 'fit of rage' by her brother, Suhail Mohammed, 23, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley ruled last week after an inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court. She said she also found his family tried to cover it up in the aftermath, and gave a conclusion of unlawful killing.

Falaq was bathing another of her siblings in the bathroom of the family's home on Bury Road in Rochdale in February, 2022.

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Ms Kearsley found the girl was subjected to an 'unprovoked, indefensible punch' by her brother. Just 21 minutes after an ambulance was called, the inquest was told he sent text messages to his girlfriend saying he had 'killed' his little sister. In the messages, he wrote he had 'punched her on the head', saying she was 'screaming her head off' and 'it was the heat of the moment'. Falaq died in hospital a month later.

Mr Mohammed, who hasn't been charged with any criminal offence, told police he used 'quite a bit of force' on the door to open it and described 'barging' it with his 'shoulder and elbow' before finding Falaq 'on the floor' near the radiator.

He said he was pushing the door from the outside, and Falaq was pulling it from the inside, after he heard 'bickering' with a younger brother who wanted to get inside. The inquest, however, heard