A mother from East London has been sentenced to nine and a half years in prison for the death of her three-month-old daughter.

Kaylani Kalanzi, who was part of a child protection plan by social services, suffered catastrophic brain injuries, along with a broken leg and ribs, after being violently shaken in July 2024.

During the trial at the Old Bailey, it was revealed that her parents, Nazli Merthoca and Herbert Kalanzi, called for emergency help, claiming Kaylani had stopped breathing. However, upon the arrival of paramedics at their East Ham residence, Nazli Merthoca failed to inform them that her daughter had been shaken.

While Merthoca, aged 24, was acquitted of murder, she was found guilty of manslaughter.

Kaylani had sustained serious injuries, including bleeding in the brain, eye damage, and fractures in her tibia and ribs, and she subsequently passed away several days later due to her brain trauma.

Staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital observed that Nazli Merthoca became distressed when questioned about the events leading to Kaylani’s injuries and suggested she felt the interrogation was influenced by her race and gender.

During the sentencing, prosecutor Abigail Husbands outlined how Merthoca had lost control due to various stressors in her life.

She reportedly harbored resentment towards social workers and frequently sought to confront them throughout their involvement. There was also evidence of her cannabis use at the time of her arrest.

Merthoca’s defense attorney, Benjamin Aina KC, noted that she had entered the foster care system as a child at the age of 12 and had relied on substances like cannabis and alcohol to cope with her circumstances.

A psychologist’s report presented in court indicated that her difficult past had resulted in significant anger issues. “She truly wished to be a good mother,” Aina stated, adding that the loss of Kaylani was a profound tragedy for her.

In his remarks, Judge Mark Lucraft KC referred to Kaylani’s passing as “the loss of a precious life,” one that would resonate with many people. He emphasized that Merthoca would have to grapple with the reality of having taken her own daughter’s life.

However, he also acknowledged her mental health struggles, her age, and her challenging circumstances while determining her sentence.

Merthoca was informed she must serve two-thirds of her sentence in prison before being eligible for release on license.

Her partner, 35-year-old Herbert Kalanzi, was acquitted of murder as well as charges of causing or allowing Kaylani’s death and failing to protect her.

Both parents denied any wrongdoing and did not testify during the trial.