Kaliyah Coa entered the water whilst playing on a concrete slipway at Barge House Causeway in North Woolwich on March 31.
Her disappearance sparked a large-scale search which lasted two weeks until her body was found in Maritime Quay, near Canary Wharf, on April 13.
Her cause of death was given as “immersion” in cold water.
At a pre-inquest review hearing on Wednesday, November 12, East London Coroner’s Court heard that the Metropolitan Police investigation into her death had concluded.
A representative for the police force confirmed they did not intend to commence a prosecution in relation to her death.
Senior coroner Graeme Irvine will now hold a full inquest into her death, which will examine whether or not any missed opportunities existed to prevent it.
But he told Kaliyah’s family: “Anyone expecting me to finalise a judgement which deals with the issue of blame is going to be sorely disappointed, I need everyone to understand that now.”
He explained that the role of an inquest to answer four questions – who the deceased was, when they died, where they died, and how they came by their death.
To answer the question of “how”, Mr Irvine said it would be necessary to answer how it was that Kaliyah got into the position she was in when she went into the water.
“Again, to manage expectations, this is not a trial of a case of child neglect, murder, or manslaughter.
“This is simply an attempt to understand the facts of how the death came about,” Mr Irvine said.
Kaliyah had been playing with friends on a concrete slipway known as Barge House Causeway in North Woolwich, a previous inquest hearing was told.
Some witness accounts suggested Kaliyah’s entry into the water was as a result of trying to retrieve a lost shoe, but Mr Irvine said that is something which will be examined in the full inquest.
A statement issued by Kaliyah’s family at the time of her death said: “Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same. We were blessed to have Kaliyah, even if it was for such a short time.
“She will be missed so much. Kaliyah went to a birthday party and never returned home to her family.
“The family would like to thank all those who were involved in the search and recovery of Kaliyah.”
Mr Irvine said witness accounts from two children who were present when Kaliyah entered the water had not been taken, despite efforts by the Met Police.
He asked the Met to make one last effort to take these witness statements, adding: “There is no way I could discharge my statutory function to understand how Kaliyah came by her death without receiving an account from these two children.
“If the parents do not consent to such an interview, the children will be summonsed to give evidence at this court. In what form, I don’t know, but I make it very clear I have little desire to call a child into that witness box.”
Addressing Newham Council, Mr Irvine said: “I need to understand whether or not the area of waterpoint at the end of Bare House Road, known as Barge House Causeway, was an area controlled by the local authority.
“It seems to me there is a reasonable suspicion that the area was, on the basis that the slipway has a public access to the Thames so boat owners can make their way in and out of the water.
“I’m going to need an answer to that question in 14 days because if it is the case I would very much expect the local authority to present me with evidence to assist me with my secondary duty, which is to try to improve safety and prevent future deaths.
“So I would implore the local authority to think rationally about Kaliyah’s death and think about how to improve safety. If that hasn’t happened already I would be slightly concerned.”
The full inquest will take place at a later date.
