AMIRA MEMUR SENTENCED IN NEWCASTLE FOR MAIMING CHILD WITH WEAPON
In September 2012, a woman named Amira Memur was sentenced to prison after attacking an 18-month-old child with an unknown weapon, leaving permanent scars on the child's face.Memur, 41 years old, struck the toddler twice across the face, causing injuries to the cheek.
She was sentenced to 21 months in jail for unlawful wounding and child cruelty, with her prison term for both charges running concurrently.
Her husband, Mehmet Memur, was also convicted after failing to seek medical assistance for the injured child and received a community order requiring 150 hours of community service for his role in child cruelty.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how the child's facial wounds had become infected by December 13, according to prosecutor Gavin Doig, who stated: “By December 13 at 11 am, the injuries to the child’s cheek were obviously not fresh and had, according to medical opinion, become infected.
The child sustained two full-thickness linear wounds to the cheek.” Mrs.
Memur, who appeared in court with a translator, had previously been convicted in 2009 for child cruelty after hitting another child with a stick.
Judge Guy Whitburn addressed her directly, saying: “You were convicted of unlawful wounding and child cruelty.
The injuries which you inflicted on an 18-month-old child were serious, the photographs were shown to the jury and an instrument of some sort was undoubtedly used.
I gather from the pre-sentence report that there has been permanent scarring of that helpless baby’s face.” Memur was sentenced to serve 15 months for unlawful wounding and six months for child cruelty, to run concurrently.
Her husband, Mehmet Memur, was warned for his actions, with the judge stating: “You unwisely accepted the explanation of your wife that delayed taking the child to hospital.
By the time the child was taken to hospital, the wounds had become infected.
It was misplaced loyalty to your wife.” During proceedings, defense lawyer Annaliese Haugstad expressed concern for Memur’s vulnerability in prison, explaining: “If your honor were to deprive her of her liberty she would be extremely vulnerable within the prison setting, in addition to how isolated she would be.” The case drew attention amidst a wider concern about child protection.
A recent report by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children highlighted that while six out of ten social workers would act swiftly to protect children from physical harm, many would delay or neglect other neglected children, such as those who are hungry or without proper clothes or medical care, revealing that child suffering due to neglect is often overlooked.
