A mother has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of over 12 years for the murder of her seven-week-old daughter. Sarah Ngaba, 32, was convicted in 2020 of inflicting severe head injuries on baby Eliza, which led to her death from an infection in August 2022.
Details of the Case
At Birmingham Crown Court, the judge described the killing as 'the culmination of increasingly hostile behaviour' towards the infant. Jurors heard that in November 2019, Ngaba violently shook Eliza and struck her head against a wall, causing catastrophic injuries. Ngaba initially sought to conceal her actions by lying to medical staff and police. CCTV footage showed her buying a lottery ticket before taking Eliza to the hospital by taxi, delaying crucial medical care.
Sentencing Remarks
Mrs Justice Brunner, presiding over the case, praised Eliza's foster parents, Laura and Gary Haynes, for providing a stable and loving home. The judge criticized Ngaba for delaying medical help, stating, 'It would have been obvious to you straight away that Eliza had serious injuries, but you continued to act in a callous way.' The judge noted that Ngaba had already served six years and 211 days of a 14-year sentence for wounding, which was deducted from the 19-year minimum term for murder.
Prosecution and Mitigation
Prosecutor Lisa Hancox described the attack as 'prolonged' and 'sustained,' emphasizing that Ngaba's reaction to Eliza's collapse was 'callous and uncaring.' In mitigation, Gordon Aspden KC highlighted that Ngaba had become a model prisoner and joined the Anglican community while incarcerated.
Reactions
Kate Seal of the Crown Prosecution Service called the case 'one of the most distressing' she had encountered, noting that Ngaba repeatedly changed her account to avoid responsibility. Detective Chief Inspector Lee Holehouse of West Mercia Police stated that Ngaba showed no remorse and continued to deny responsibility for the suffering she caused.
