A PANEL of national experts are to decide whether to launch a serious case review following the sudden death of a teenager from Barrow.
‘Talented’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘intelligent’ Maziellie MacKenzie, 14, was found in woodland near to Heysham Barrows in Lancashire on June 23 by a member of the public.
Paramedics attempted to revive the keen musician, who was looked after by Cumbria County Council, but tragically she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Now, a decision over whether Maziellie’s death should be the subject of an independent review by Cumbria’s Local Safeguarding Children Board is expected to be announced any day.
Her case has already been provisionally discussed during a meeting of experts in Cumbria in July who opted to refer it to a national panel.
If a serious case review is deemed appropriate, the circumstances of the youngster’s care prior to her death will be examined in detail before being published.
Any learning points arising from such a review would be used to inform the way children living in care are supported in the future.
An inquest to determine the official cause of Maziellie’s death is yet to be held by a coroner.
However, a spokesman for Lancashire police said at the time that her death was not being treated as suspicious.
The family and friends of popular Maziellie, who was also known as Mazie, spoke of their shock at her death in June through an outpouring of tributes left on social media sites.
She had attended Walney School and Furness Academy in Barrow, as well as Ulverston Victoria High School, and was said to have played the guitar and enjoyed music.
In a statement, her parents said: “Our loving daughter Maziellie was a funny, caring, beautiful and talented guitarist and singer.
“We are all devastated at her loss and we will miss her more than words can say.”
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