A mother has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 12 years, for the killing of her seven-week-old daughter. Sarah Ngaba, 32, caused severe head injuries to the infant, fractured her skull, and then made a stop to purchase a lottery ticket before seeking medical help.
Despite admitting to causing life-threatening injuries to her daughter, Eliza Ngaba, Ngaba denied murder, arguing that she should be charged with infanticide. However, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court found her guilty of murder in May.
During the sentencing, Trial judge Mrs. Justice Brunner KC described the killing as the result of Ngaba’s escalating hostility towards the infant. Ngaba, previously convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to her child in 2019, was charged with murder after Eliza passed away at the age of two in August 2022 due to a respiratory infection exacerbated by the earlier assault.
Mrs. Justice Brunner commended the dedication of Eliza’s foster parents, Laura and Gary Haynes, who described their love for Eliza and the joy she brought into their lives. The judge criticized Ngaba for delaying medical help by booking a taxi to the hospital, thereby reducing her daughter’s chances of receiving timely treatment.
Highlighting the severity of the assault, the judge stated that Eliza’s injuries indicated a sustained attack rather than a momentary outburst of violence. Ngaba’s past conviction for wounding was taken into account, reducing her minimum term due to time already served.
In a plea for leniency, Ngaba’s counsel, Gordon Aspden KC, mentioned her positive conduct within the Anglican community during her incarceration. Despite the defense’s appeal for a reduced sentence, prosecutor Lisa Hancox emphasized the violent nature of the assault, describing it as a prolonged and aggressive attack on a defenseless infant.
Ngaba exhibited increasing hostility towards Eliza before the assault, according to Ms. Hancox, and displayed callous behavior when the infant collapsed. The prosecution maintained that Eliza’s death was a result of a violent and sustained assault by her mother during a fit of rage.
This tragic case highlighted the devastating consequences of child abuse and the need for justice in protecting vulnerable children.