Charge against mother of 16-year-old disabled girl upgraded to murder

A Toronto mother accused of manslaughter earlier this year in the death of her disabled, 16-year-old daughter has had the charge upgraded to first-degree murder.

The death of Cynara Amiee Ali, who suffered from cerebral palsy, was the city's 49th homicide of 2011.

The girl died in hospital in February, 2011, two days after police visited the family home in Scarborough. No cause of death has been released.

Her mother initially reported that a home invasion had taken place, police said at the time.

In March of this year Cindy Ann Sherry Ali, 42, was charged with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, failing to provide the necessities of life, attempting to obstruct justice, mischief and fabricating evidence.

On Wednesday she was rearrested on the murder charge, with a court appearance at College Park scheduled for later in the day.

First-degree murder usually means police believe that planning preceded the victim's death.