AN inquiry was today trying to discover how tragic Rabina Hashim managed to kill her four-month-old daughter when she already had a record of child violence despite being under daily supervision by social workers.

The move came as health bosses and social services refused to reveal why Emma Dyson was not on a child at risk register and how and why her mentally-ill mother was released from the mental health unit at Rossendale Hospital just weeks before she threw her into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Burnley.

It was also revealed today that Emma's distraught father, Steve, has left the family home in Clare Street to start a new life abroad in a bid to get over the tragedy.

Emma drowned on March 14 only weeks after her mother was allowed home from Rossendale General Hospital where she was receiving treatment for post natal depression.

Yesterday she was sent to a secure mental unit for an indefinite period after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Preston Crown Court. The court was told she had heard voices telling her to throw her child into the water.

One of the police officers who led the inquiry, Det Sgt Mick Collins, said outside the court Rabina had been admitted to hospital suffering from post natal depression following the birth of Emma.

He said: "She was released only a matter of weeks prior to her causing the death of her baby.

"She received daily visits from the social services and other care service people such as midwives and in fact received more help than most because of her history and background."

In court it was said by defending counsel Roger Baldwin that it was easy to say in hindsight that Rabina perhaps should have remained in hospital.

Det Sgt Collins added: "Whether there is anything to answer in relation to her release from hospital I don't know. But I can say that after she returned home she was visited every day and because of her background and her condition in relation to depression she got more help than most."

The only statement on the case released by Burnley Health Care NHS Trust and Lancashire County Council social services department was by Gill Rigg, chairman of the Lancashire Area Child Protection Committee. She said: "The circumstances surrounding Emma's death are very tragic and we extend our sympathy to her family.

"Lancashire Area Child Protection Committee has undertaken a thorough review of this case in accordance with guidelines issued to all Area Child Protection Committees.

"This review is nearing its conclusion and if there are any actions identified as a result of this these will be put into place."

She said that when the review was complete its findings would be made public.

While her mother was in hospital, Emma was cared for by her father at their home in Clare Street, Burnley, not much more than 100 yards from where Emma's body was later recovered from the canal. Det Sgt Collins added: "Steve can only be described as a very loving father. His care for Emma during that time impressed the hospital, nursing staff and social services.

"He worked in the building trade but put his job on hold during that difficult time. He had only just gone back to work full time when the tragedy happened."

Steve has now gone abroad to try to rebuild his life. Det Sgt Collins added: "If there is still a victim in all this, apart from Emma, then it is him. He took it very hard. He had no suspicion that anything was going to happen." Rabina came from Manchester and had only been in Burnley a matter of months when the couple got together. Det Sgt Collins said they were both delighted when Rabina became pregnant.

Emma was Rabina's third child.

While still in Manchester she received a prison sentence for a violent attack on a two month old boy whom she struck twice in the face causing bruising and a cut lip that needed stitching.

Her second child was taken from her at birth for adoption.

Neighbours in Clare Street, where Rabina Hashim lived with Emma and Steve Dyson at the time of the tragedy, were not surprised by the outcome of the case.

"It is what we expected to happen -- it is all very sad," said one.

A neighbour who did not wish to be named, said at the time of the baby's death, neighbours had got together to offer help to Steve.

"We told him we were there for him if he needed us, but we didn't often see him.

Most of the people here now were not living in the street at the time of the baby's death and they didn't know them.

"But they always kept themselves to themselves anyway," he added.

At the time of the tragedy Burnley MP, Peter Pike, called for a full inquiry into the circumstances.

Mr Pike is now on his way back from a visit to South Africa and is expected to make a statement about the case later this week.

A spokesman for Mr Pike said: "Mr Pike said it is a very tragic case and that society had failed her and we need to learn from these mistakes.

"He will look again at this case file as soon as he returns."

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