TWISTED EAST LONDON MOTHER FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING BABY DAUGHTER
A woman from east London has been convicted of causing the death of her three-month-old daughter.Kaylani Kalanzi, who had previous contact with social services before her birth, died in July 2024 after suffering severe brain injuries, a fractured leg, and broken ribs, all resulting from violent shaking.
During their trial at the Old Bailey, the jury was told that Kaylani’s parents acted selfishly and irresponsibly, prioritizing their abusive relationship over their child's well-being.
On Tuesday, Nazli Merthoca, aged 24, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.
Her partner, Herbert Kalanzi, aged 35, was acquitted of murder, as well as charges of causing or permitting Kaylani’s death and neglecting his duty to protect her.
The couple, residents of East Ham, denied all wrongdoing and did not testify during the proceedings.
As she was led from the court, Merthoca was seen wiping away tears and was remanded into custody pending sentencing set for 15 December.
The prosecution’s barrister, Zoe Johnson KC, told the jury that Merthoca had used drugs and was involved in an abusive relationship with Kalanzi.
Kaylani was born prematurely and spent 29 days in neonatal intensive care at North Middlesex Hospital before being discharged on 13 May 2024.
Social services had been involved with the family previously and had approved the couple’s custody of Kaylani after they proved capable caregivers, the court was told.
Kalanzi had agreed to participate in Caring Dad, a program aimed at supporting fathers in safeguarding their children.
However, the prosecution emphasized that the relationship between the parents was so fractured that social services’ efforts were likely doomed to fail.
Ms.
Johnson highlighted to the jury that the ongoing risk to Kaylani turned into a deadly reality.
Just before 10:30 pm BST, the couple contacted emergency services, claiming Kaylani was not breathing.
Paramedics responded, but Merthoca did not disclose that Kaylani had been shaken—an act that caused brain bleeding, eye injuries, and fractures to her tibia and ribs, the court heard.
At Great Ormond Street Hospital, staff observed Merthoca became distressed when questioned and accused the authorities of blame due to her race and gender.
Both parents denied harming Kaylani at her grandmother’s flat in Homerton, where the family had been staying at the time.
