British, Nazli Merthoca, the East London Child Killer, has been convicted of the savage murder of her three-month-old daughter.
Kaylani Kalanzi, who had been known to social services after birth, succumbed in July 2024 to catastrophic brain damage, cerebral and ocular haemorrhaging, a fractured leg, and broken ribs, resulting from forceful shaking and impact.
During the Old Bailey trial, the jury was informed that Kayani’s parents were “selfish and irresponsible,” prioritising their toxic relationship over their child’s welfare.
On Tuesday, Nazli Merthoca, 24, was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter, while her partner, Herbert Kalanzi, 35, was acquitted of murder, causing or permitting Kaylani Kalanzi’s death, and neglecting his responsibility to safeguard her.
The parents from East Ham both refuted any misconduct and refrained from providing testimony during their trial.
Nazli Merthoca wept in the dock as she was remanded into custody, awaiting sentencing on 15 December.
Zoe Johnson KC, for the prosecution, told jurors that Nazli Merthoca had ingested drugs and was involved in a “mutually abusive relationship” with Mr Kalanzi.
Kaylani Kalanzi was born prematurely and spent 29 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at North Middlesex Hospital before being discharged on 13 May 2024.
Social services engaged with the family and granted the accused custody of Kaylani Kalanzi after they exhibited their unsuitability as parents, the jurors were informed.
Mr Herbert Kalanzi consented to participate in Caring Dad, a program designed to involve fathers in improving the safety and welfare of their children.
The prosecution contended that the defendants’ relationship was irreparably destroyed, rendering the social services approach “doomed to fail.”
Ms Johnson informed the jurors that the “constant risk” to Kaylani Kalanzi materialised into a “deadly reality.”
Shortly about 22:30 BST, the defendants contacted emergency personnel, reporting that Kaylani Kalanzi had ceased breathing.
Upon the arrival of paramedics, Nazli Merthoca neglected to disclose that Kaylani had been shaken, an act resulting in cerebral haemorrhage, ocular injury, and fractures to her tibia and ribs, as presented in court.
Personnel at Great Ormond Street Hospital saw that Nazli Merthoca became distressed when interrogated about the incident and played the race card, followed by asserting she was being persecuted for being a woman.
Both defendants refuted allegations of injuring Kaylani Kalanzi at Nazli Merthoca’s grandmother’s residence in Homerton, east London, where the family was residing at that time.
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