Mother pleads guilty to fatally stabbing daughter, 10, in West Midlands home

A mother has pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing her 10-year-old daughter, who was described by her school in the West Midlands as “bright, happy and fun-loving”.

Jaskirat Kaur, 33, admitted the manslaughter of Shay Kang on the basis of diminished responsibility.

Kaur had been charged with murder, which she denied, but the prosecution counsel Sally Howes KC told a judge at Wolverhampton crown court on Friday that the manslaughter guilty plea was acceptable to the crown.

Shay was found dead at a property in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, after police were called to her home at about 12.10pm on 4 March.

A postmortem examination revealed that the cause of death was stab wounds to the chest, an inquest at the Black Country coroner’s court was told in March.

On Friday, the defence barrister Katherine Goddard KC said there was “no dispute over the facts” of the case.

The defendant attended the short hearing via video link and spoke only to confirm her name and say that she could hear the judge.

Kaur, also known as Jasmine Kang, appeared to be listening intently to proceedings, leaning forward so she could hear what was being said.

Judge Chambers KC set a sentencing date of 25 October and said Kaur needed to be in court for the hearing.

Addressing Kaur, he said: “There will be a need for further reports, so it is in your interests to cooperate with the preparation of those reports.”

Brickhouse primary school in Rowley Regis, where Shay was a pupil, said in a statement at the time of her death: “Our school is deeply saddened by the tragic death of one of our children.

“Shay was a bright, happy, fun-loving child who was well liked by all, and she will be very sadly missed by everyone.”

The school said Shay’s funeral would take place on Thursday 5 September .

The inquest into Shay’s death was opened and adjourned to a later date pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

Joanne Lees, an area coroner, told the inquest Shay’s death had been reported to the coroner by West Midlands policeafter they found her body at the Rowley Regis property. “A postmortem has been conducted and a medical cause of death has been established as stab wounds to the chest.”