.svg)
In a case that has sent ripples of sorrow and concern through the British-Bangladeshi community of East London, Nazli Merthoca, a 24-year-old mother, was today sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for the manslaughter of her three-month-old daughter, Kaylani Kalanzi. Merthoca, whose British-Bangladeshi lineage has been confirmed by local reporting, was cleared of the more severe charge of murder in October 2024 but convicted of the lesser, yet devastating, charge of manslaughter, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.
The sentencing, delivered by Judge Mark Lucraft KC at the Old Bailey, draws a tragic close to the life of a child who was known to social services before she was even born, having been immediately placed on a child protection plan. Kaylani was born prematurely and spent 29 days in hospital before being allowed home on 13 May 2024.
Read Also: Drugged British Bangladeshi Mother Guilty of Manslaughter in 3-Month-Old Baby's Killing
The court heard that the infant’s life was tragically cut short due to a volatile domestic environment. Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC described the relationship between Merthoca and the child’s father, Herbert Kalanzi, 35, as "mutually abusive." Digital evidence retrieved from Merthoca’s devices further revealed a pattern of "toxic and abusive behaviour." Compounding this volatility, Ms. Johnson confirmed Merthoca had "consumed drugs" and faced a series of challenges that led her to "lose her temper" with the infant.
Catalogue of Catastrophic Injuries
The tragedy culminated on 8 July 2024, when Merthoca called 999 from her grandmother's flat in Homerton, East London, claiming Kaylani had stopped breathing. Despite the arrival of paramedics, Merthoca concealed the fact that Kaylani had been violently shaken. The child was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital with catastrophic, non-accidental injuries, including traumatic brain damage consistent with shaking, bleeding to the brain, eye damage, and multiple fractures to her tibia and ribs. Kaylani died 15 days later on 23 July 2024.
Defence barrister Benjamin Aina KC outlined Merthoca's own deeply troubled background, which included suffering physical abuse as a child, entering the care system at the age of 12, and struggling with addiction and being "groomed by older men." Despite the defendant's emotional distress at the hospital, where she reportedly became upset and claimed she was being blamed because of her "race and gender," the jury concluded she was solely responsible for the fatal assault.
In his remarks, Judge Lucraft KC condemned the "loss of a precious life," telling the convicted mother, "The impact of the death of Kaylani will be felt by many," adding the stark truth, "You will have to live with the knowledge that you killed your daughter." Herbert Kalanzi, who was on trial accused of causing or allowing Kaylani’s death, was cleared of all charges.
A Community Under Strain
The heartbreaking details of Kaylani’s death have amplified existing concerns about domestic violence and the challenges facing vulnerable families in the densely populated British-Bangladeshi communities of East London, particularly in boroughs like Tower Hamlets. This case is the latest in a series of high-profile, tragic incidents, including the fatal stabbing of a mother, Yasmin Begum, in Bethnal Green in 2022 by her husband, and another mother being killed by her British-Bangladeshi son. Furthermore, the incident echoes the wider community trauma where family violence, including a reported case of a brother killing his own brother in Mile End, has come into sharp focus.
Reza Ahmed Faisal Chowdhury, President of the UK Bangla Press Club, spoke to the urgency of the situation, stating, "These heartbreaking incidents bring the critical issue of family violence into sharp relief and emphasize the urgent necessity of providing support for vulnerable families as they tackle complex challenges, including addiction, mental health struggles, and domestic conflict."
The Metropolitan Police, whose investigation compiled "extensive digital evidence" painting a "damning picture of the defendant," acknowledged the complexity of the case. "Merthoca carried out a horrific assault on her own child," said Detective Inspector John Marriott, from Specialist Crime North. "Though Kaylani's life was cut short by this hideous abuse, there were relatives who loved and cared for her. They have been left traumatised by her killing."
Merthoca, of East Ham and formerly of Hackney, was remanded into custody upon her conviction and will now serve her sentence, a constant reminder of the failure to protect a life that was dependent entirely on her care.
