A 24-year-old mother has been sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for causing the death of her three-month-old daughter by violently shaking her in East London.
A Premature Birth and a Troubled Start
Nazli Merthoca gave birth to her daughter, Kaylani Kalanzi, prematurely. The newborn spent the first 29 days of her life in hospital before being allowed home on 13 May 2024. From the outset, authorities were concerned. Kaylani was placed on a child protection plan even before her birth, and social services required both parents to prove they were fit to care for her.
The child's father, Herbert Kalanzi, agreed to attend a fatherhood programme. However, the Old Bailey court heard that Merthoca was in a "mutually abusive relationship" with Kalanzi and often challenged social workers instead of accepting their support. Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC stated that the social services' strategy was ultimately "doomed to fail."
The Fatal Night and Catastrophic Injuries
The ever-present risk to baby Kaylani turned into a "fatal reality" on 8 July 2024. Shortly before 10:30 PM, Merthoca and Kalanzi called emergency services from her grandmother's flat in Homerton, reporting that the infant had stopped breathing.
When paramedics arrived, Merthoca did not tell them the crucial truth: she had violently shaken Kaylani. This act caused catastrophic bleeding to the baby's brain, damage to her eyes, and fractures to her ribs and tibia (leg bone). Rushed to the hospital with these severe injuries, Kaylani died 15 days later.
Trial, Defence, and Sentencing
During the trial in October, hospital staff reported that Merthoca became upset when questioned, claiming she was being blamed due to her "race and gender." The prosecution argued she had "lost her temper with the baby after an accumulation of factors."
Her defence lawyer, Benjamin Aina KC, outlined a life of significant challenges for Merthoca. He told the court she suffered physical abuse as a child, entered the care system at age 12, was groomed by older men, and relied on cannabis and alcohol. He also spoke of her profound grief over Kaylani's death.
The jury cleared Merthoca of murder but found her guilty of manslaughter. Herbert Kalanzi, who was also on trial for causing or allowing the death, was cleared by the jury.
On Monday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC sentenced Merthoca to nine years and six months. He described Kaylani's death as the "loss of a precious life" whose impact would be felt by many. He told Merthoca, "You will have to live with the knowledge that you killed your daughter." Both defendants, from East Ham, London, did not give evidence during their trial.
