A woman from East London has been convicted of the manslaughter of her three-month-old daughter.
Kaylani Kalanzi, who tragically had a history with social services even before her birth, suffered severe brain injuries, along with a broken leg and fractured ribs in July 2024, following a violent shaking incident.
During the proceedings at the Old Bailey, the jury was informed that Kaylani’s parents exhibited “selfish and irresponsible” behavior, prioritizing their tumultuous relationship over the well-being of their child.
On Tuesday, 24-year-old Nazli Merthoca was acquitted of murder but held responsible for manslaughter, while her partner, 35-year-old Herbert Kalanzi, was exonerated of murder, as well as charges related to permitting Kaylani’s death and neglecting his protective duties.
Residing in East Ham, both parents denied any wrongdoing and opted not to testify during their trial.
Merthoca was seen weeping in the dock as she was taken into custody, awaiting sentencing set for December 15.
In previous statements for the prosecution, Zoe Johnson KC highlighted that Merthoca had a history of drug use and was entangled in a “mutually abusive relationship” with Kalanzi.
Kaylani, who had been born prematurely, spent 29 days in the special care unit at North Middlesex Hospital before being discharged on May 13, 2024.
Social services had previously interacted with the family and had granted custody of Kaylani after they appeared to demonstrate their capability as parents, according to the jury’s findings.
Kalanzi had committed to participating in Caring Dad, a program designed to engage fathers in improving the safety and welfare of their children.
However, the prosecution argued that the relationship between the two defendants was so severely impaired that any plan initiated by social services was “destined to fail.”
Ms. Johnson explained to the jury that the ongoing risk faced by Kaylani ultimately manifested as a “fatal reality.”
Just before 22:30 BST, the couple called emergency services, reporting that Kaylani had stopped breathing.
When the paramedics arrived, Merthoca did not disclose that Kaylani had been shaken, a detail that led to brain bleeding, eye injury, and fractures to her tibia and ribs, as presented in court.
Staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital observed that Merthoca became emotional when questioned about the incident, claiming she was being stigmatized due to her race and gender.
Both parents refuted any allegations of harm towards Kaylani, insisting that nothing happened to her while they were staying at Merthoca’s grandmother’s residence in Homerton, east London.
