Mother Sentenced to Nine Years for Shaking Toddler to Death in Manchester
A mother has been jailed for nine years after shaking her two-year-old daughter to death and lying about the cause, following a period of sustained abuse that included beatings, burns, and bites. The tragic case unfolded at Manchester Crown Court, where Morsal Mohammed Naim, 32, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while her husband, Firooz Wali Jan, 32, admitted to child cruelty, receiving a sentence of six years and nine months.
Brutal Abuse and Fatal Injuries
Omra Wali Jan died in hospital on February 9, 2024, after suffering severe traumatic brain injuries from what prosecutors described as 'extremely forceful shaking' by her mother in November 2023. The court heard that over several weeks in late 2023, Omra endured multiple attacks, including being burned with a lighter and bitten, with both parents complicit in the abuse. Prosecutor John Elvidge KC stated that neither parent was unaware of the injuries, and their roles in the infliction of harm became increasingly blurred over time.
Greater Manchester Police released images of Omra taken when she was in the care of others, showing a 'happy, smiling, beautiful child,' starkly contrasting with the violence she faced at home. The family had moved to Levenshulme in September 2023, where Omra struggled to adapt to a 'tightly confined' and 'poor quality' accommodation, with Naim rarely leaving the flat and preventing her husband from being alone with their daughter.
Deception and Medical Evidence
On November 30, 2023, Wali Jan went to work, leaving Omra with Naim. Phone records revealed that Naim deleted calls to family in Afghanistan and sent an audio message before discovering Omra unconscious. She then carried the child to a neighbor, falsely claiming the toddler had choked on a biscuit. Paramedics initially thought the emergency call was a hoax due to a lack of response but eventually revived Omra after a neighbor intervened.
Omra was rushed to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where a CT scan showed severe brain injuries, including multifocal subdural haemorrhage and extensive hypoxic brain damage. She was placed on life support until it was removed with High Court permission on February 9, 2024. A post-mortem confirmed her death resulted from head injuries, with Mr. Elvidge emphasizing that all injuries were deliberately inflicted in the family home, causing extreme pain.
Court Sentencing and Condemnation
Judge Mr. Justice Turner condemned the parents' behavior as 'sadistic,' noting that Naim never admitted details of the attack, such as why or how it occurred. The sentences reflect the gravity of the abuse, with the court highlighting the parents' failure to protect their child. This case underscores broader issues of child safety and parental accountability in urban settings, prompting calls for increased vigilance and support systems to prevent such tragedies.
