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Mother Jailed for Nine Years in Manslaughter of Three-Month-Old Daughter
A London mother has been sentenced to nine years and six months in prison after being convicted of the manslaughter of her three-month-old daughter, Kaylani Kalanzi. The case,heard at the Old Bailey,revealed a tragic series of events stemming from a tumultuous relationship and pre-existing concerns about the child’s welfare.
Early Intervention and Escalating Risk
kaylani Kalanzi was born prematurely and spent 29 days in hospital before being discharged on May 13, 2024. Even before her birth, the infant was identified as being at risk, prompting social services to place her on a child protection plan. Prosecutors detailed a “mutually abusive relationship” between Nazli Merthoca, the mother, and Herbert Kalanzi, the child’s father. As a condition of allowing the parents to retain custody, mr. Kalanzi was required to participate in a fatherhood program.
However, a prosecutor, Zoe Johnson KC, argued that the social services’ intervention strategy was ultimately “doomed to fail,” and the “ever-present risk” to Kaylani tragically materialized on july 8, 2024. The couple contacted emergency services shortly before 10:30 p.m., reporting that Kaylani had stopped breathing and requesting assistance at Merthoca’s grandmother’s flat in Homerton, east London.
Concealment and Catastrophic Injuries
Upon arrival, paramedics were not informed by Merthoca that Kaylani had been violently shaken. Subsequent medical examinations revealed the extent of the infant’s injuries: bleeding to the brain, damage to her eyes, and fractures to her tibia and ribs. Kaylani was admitted to hospital with catastrophic brain injuries, a broken leg, and fractured ribs, ultimately succumbing to her injuries 15 days later.
During questioning at Great ormond Street Hospital, Merthoca reportedly expressed feeling unfairly blamed, attributing the scrutiny to her “race and gender,” according to hospital staff. Ms. Johnson stated that Merthoca had “lost her temper with the baby after an accumulation of factors” and actively “challenged” social workers instead of seeking their support.
A History of Trauma and Grief
The defense, led by Benjamin Aina KC, presented a portrait of a woman grappling with important personal challenges. Merthoca experienced physical abuse as a child and entered the care system at age 12, where she was subjected to exploitation and turned to substance abuse, including cannabis and alcohol. The court also heard testimony regarding her profound “grief” over Kaylani’s death.
While a jury acquitted Merthoca of murder following a trial in October, she was found guilty of manslaughter. judge Mark Lucraft KC, during sentencing on Monday, described Kaylani’s death as a “loss of a precious life.” He told Merthoca, “The impact of the death of Kaylani will be felt by many. You will have to live with the knowledge that you killed your daughter.”
Mr. kalanzi was also on trial, accused of causing or allowing Kaylani’s death, but was cleared of all charges by the j
