A mother has been found guilty of killing her three-month-old daughter at the Old Bailey. Nazli Merthoca, 24, was convicted of manslaughter after a jury deliberated for more than 15 hours on Tuesday.
Baby Kaylani Kalanzi was admitted to hospital on 8 July 2024 after being violently shaken, suffering catastrophic brain injuries as well as a broken leg and ribs. She died in hospital 15 days later. The baby had been on a child protection plan even before she was born.
Court verdict delivered
The jury cleared Merthoca of murder but found her guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Merthoca, from East Ham, east London, wiped away tears in the dock as she was remanded into custody. She will be sentenced on 15 December.
Her partner Herbert Kalanzi, 35, was cleared by the jury of causing or allowing Kaylani's death. He was formally acquitted of murder on the directions of Judge Mark Lucraft KC. Both defendants had denied wrongdoing and declined to give evidence during the trial.
Police response to verdict
Detective Inspector John Marriott from Scotland Yard said Merthoca had carried out "a horrific assault on her own child". He added: "To add insult, she then spun a web of lies to the emergency services in order to cover up her responsibility."
The detective described how investigators compiled extensive digital evidence alongside overwhelming medical evidence. He said: "Offences against children, especially of this gravity, are some of the most difficult cases police deal with. The evidence here was particularly harrowing and complex, and I would like to commend the investigation team for their work bringing Merthoca to justice."
Background to the case
Kaylani had been born prematurely and spent 29 days in the special care baby unit at North Middlesex Hospital before being allowed home on 13 May 2024. Social services were involved with the family and had allowed the defendants custody after they demonstrated they were fit parents.
Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC had told jurors the parents were "selfish and irresponsible", putting their abusive relationship above their child's needs. She said the defendants' relationship was so damaged that the social services strategy was "doomed to fail".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
