MOHAMMED MIAN AND REBEKA NAZIM FROM POPLAR SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF BABY RIFAT

In a tragic and disturbing case that unfolded at the Old Bailey, a father from Poplar named Mohammed Miah, aged 37, was convicted of the murder of his 13-week-old son, Rifat. The court heard harrowing details of the abuse inflicted upon the infant, which ultimately led to his death in July of the previous year. Miah was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years for the murder charge, and an additional seven years for allowing injury to a child, with both sentences to run concurrently.

Rifat's lifeless body was discovered with extensive injuries, including 38 fractured ribs, eight broken legs, and a fractured spine. The post-mortem examination revealed that the infant had suffered severe brain injuries, which were consistent with either being violently shaken or struck against a hard surface. Additional evidence indicated that Rifat had been hit with the cord of a mobile phone charger and had been burned on a radiator, highlighting the brutal nature of the abuse he endured.

The court was told that Mohammed Miah harbored intense hatred towards his son, partly because Rifat was born with a deformed hand. From the moment of his birth, the baby was subjected to horrific acts of violence. Miah, who was described as