SENTENCED FOR LIFE: OLUSOLA AKINRELE AND KELLY INMAN REPORTED IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE

In February 2010, a father described as 'psychopathic' was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his seven-week-old daughter, Leeya. Olusola Akinrele, 34, was convicted at the Old Bailey and will serve a minimum of 16 years before being eligible for parole. The court heard that Akinrele used his baby as a means to avoid deportation; he denied murdering Leeya but admitted overstaying his visa after arriving in the UK from Nigeria on a student visa in 1997. His visa expired in 2001, and he failed to return to Nigeria, with the judge noting, 'You simply saw her birth as something which might help you avoid deportation.' The judge also highlighted Akinrele's apparent lack of concern for his daughter, stating he had 'little or no interest' in her.

Leeya, who lived in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, died on December 30, 2006, at Ipswich Hospital after life-support was withdrawn. She was found unresponsive in her home, and ambulance staff discovered her there. The court revealed that over three weeks earlier, she had suffered numerous injuries: 22 broken ribs, a fractured skull, a fractured thigh, as well as bites on her nose and both hands. Judge Clegg remarked, 'When she was not asleep, Leeya must have been in excruciating pain.' It was noted that Akinrele showed 'little interest' in his daughter and viewed her crying as an 'irritant.'

A psychiatric report described Akinrele as 'a manipulative individual with psychopathic traits.' He was convicted of murder by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court. Meanwhile, the baby’s mother, Kelly Inman, 22, pleaded guilty to allowing her daughter’s death and was acquitted of the murder charge. She received a sentence of five years, also being convicted of a separate fraud charge.

The court established that the injuries Leeya sustained resulted from at least three separate episodes of violence, including shaking and forceful contact with a hard object. The injuries indicated severe force was used, particularly on her right leg, and she had also been bitten. On December 18, 2006, Akinrele was alone upstairs with Leeya when he carried out his final attack, which the judge described as potentially involving violent shaking or throwing her down hard. The judge emphasized, 'Your victim could not have been more vulnerable. It is to be expected that any child should look to its parent for protection. What you did to Leeya was a terrible breach of trust.'

Gail Adams from the UK Border Agency stated, 'This was a terrible crime and we will seek to deport Akinrele following completion of his sentence.'