A British woman has been jailed for life for causing serious head injuries to her seven-week-old daughter, after the baby later died from complications related to the abuse.Sarah Ngaba, 32, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of murdering her daughter Eliza.
The BBC reported that the court heard that the infant suffered serious brain and skull injuries in November 2019, which left her permanently disabled and medically vulnerable.Eliza died in 2022, at the age of two, after suffering from a respiratory infection. Prosecutors said the infection was fatal due to injuries that severely damaged her mother nearly three years ago.In handing down the sentence, Judge Brunner said Eliza had been deprived of the opportunity to live a normal life, concluding that Ngaba had attacked the baby in a fit of rage.“You are a person who loses his temper and becomes angry,” the judge said, adding that Ngaba never gave an honest account of what happened to her daughter.Ngaba admitted responsibility for causing the injuries but denied murder. The jury rejected her plea and convicted her after a trial in May.Medical evidence presented during the case showed that Eliza’s injuries were consistent with both shock and trembling.
Prosecutor Lisa Hancox QC told the court the injuries were caused by two separate mechanisms and indicated a sustained assault rather than a single act.The court heard that after the attack, Ngaba delayed calling for help and instead visited a shop to buy a lottery ticket before the seriously injured child was taken to hospital by taxi.As a result of the assault, Eliza was placed in foster care after Ngaba was jailed in 2021 for causing grievous bodily harm.
Despite living with severe disabilities, the child was cared for by foster parents Laura and Gary Hines until her death.Sentencing statements praised the couple for providing Elisa with a stable and loving home. The judge described her as “wonderful” and said she had brought happiness and security to the little girl’s life.In a statement released by West Mercia Police, Eliza’s foster family said: “Our time with Eliza was too short and our hearts are broken.
We are honored to be Eliza’s family. “We love her very much and miss her terribly every day.”Chief Inspector Lee Holhouse described the case as “absolutely heartbreaking” and said Eliza lived with the consequences of the violence inflicted on her for the rest of her life.He added: “Ngaba’s life sentence reflects not only the severity of the harm inflicted on Elisa, but also the childhood that was cruelly robbed of the person who was supposed to love and cherish her.”Ngaba received a life sentence with the minimum term reduced to match the time already served on the original assault conviction.
