A three-month-old baby girl was allegedly shaken to death by her parents amid a toxic and violent relationship, the Old Bailey has heard.
Kaylani Kalanzi was admitted to Homerton Hospital, Hackney, at around 10.30pm on 8 July 2024 with catastrophic brain injuries, as well as a broken leg and fractured ribs. Despite medical intervention, she died 15 days later.
Her parents, Herbert Kalanzi, 35, and Nazli Merthoca, 24, both from East Ham, are accused of murder and causing or allowing her death.
‘Caught up in the middle’
Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC told jurors the couple were in a “mutually abusive relationship”, with Merthoca using drugs and social services already monitoring the family under a child protection plan.
Johnson said:
“As their relationship spiralled out of control, Kaylani was caught up in the middle of it. On July 8, 2024, the ever-present risk to Kaylani became a fatal reality.”
Kaylani, who was born prematurely and spent nearly a month in a neonatal unit, had been allowed home only weeks earlier after her parents were deemed fit to care for her.
Evidence of previous injuries
Jurors were shown WhatsApp and Snapchat exchanges where Merthoca accused Kalanzi of harming Kaylani, alleging he caused a black eye and bruises. In one video, the infant could be seen with a visible eye injury.
Merthoca later searched online for “baby eye injury red spot” and “what to do if baby had blood shot eye”.
Two days later, the couple took Kaylani to a GP, claiming she had been accidentally struck with a rattle by another child.
Ms Johnson told the court:
“In itself the eye injury was minor, but it is a graphic example of the defendants’ inability to care properly for Kaylani and their failure to take action to protect her.”
Fatal night
On the night of 8 July, the defendants called 999, reporting Kaylani had stopped breathing. Paramedics were not told she had been violently shaken. Medical experts concluded her fatal injuries could not have been caused by accident.
The prosecutor said:
“One of them is lying. One of them did it. But only they know who the culprit is.”
Jurors will now be asked to determine which of the parents was responsible for the fatal assault. Both deny the charges.
