Mother jailed after 'losing her temper' and killing her three-month-old daughter

A mother who "lost her temper" and killed her three-month-old daughter has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years.

Nazli Merthoca gave birth to Kaylani Kalanzi prematurely, and the newborn had to spend 29 days in hospital before she was allowed home on 13 May 2024.

But the infant was on social services' radar before she was even born, and had been placed on a child protection plan, the Old Bailey was told.

Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC told jurors that Merthoca was in a "mutually abusive relationship" with the child's father, Herbert Kalanzi.

Before they could take custody of the child, the parents had to demonstrate they were fit parents, with Mr Kalanzi agreeing to attend a fatherhood programme.

But Ms Johnson said social services' strategy was "doomed to fail" and the "ever-present risk" to Kaylani became a "fatal reality" on 8 July 2024.

The couple called emergency services shortly before 10.30pm, saying Kaylani had stopped breathing, and requesting help at Merthoca's grandmother's flat in Homerton, east London, where they were staying at the time.

When paramedics arrived, Merthoca failed to inform them that Kaylani had been violently shaken, causing bleeding to the brain, damage to her eyes and fractures to her tibia and ribs, the court was told.

Admitted with catastrophic brain injuries, as well as a broken leg and ribs, Kaylani died in hospital 15 days later.

Merthoca became upset at being questioned about what happened, and claimed she was being blamed because of her "race and gender", according to staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Ms Johnson said Merthoca had "lost her temper with the baby after an accumulation of factors" and also "challenged" social workers instead of accepting their help.

Benjamin Aina KC, defending, told the court that his client had faced "a number of significant challenges" in her life.

These included suffering physical abuse as a child and entering the care system when she was 12, where she started being "groomed by older men" and relying on cannabis and alcohol.

He also told of her "grief" over Kaylani.

Merthoca was tried over her daughter's death in October, and a jury cleared her of murder but found her guilty of manslaughter.

Jailing her for nine years and six months on Monday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC called the death of the baby a "loss of a precious life".

"The impact of the death of Kaylani will be felt by many," he told Merthoca.

"You will have to live with the knowledge that you killed your daughter."

Read more:
Warning about danger of 'baby sleep pillows' after infant deaths
Every baby in the UK to receive DNA testing

Mr Kalanzi had also been on trial, accused of causing or allowing Kaylani's death, but was cleared by jurors.

He had been formally acquitted of her murder on the directions of the judge.

The defendants, from East Ham, east London, did not give evidence at their trial.

(c) Sky News 2025: Mother jailed after 'losing her temper' and killing her three-month-old daughter