Mohammed Karolia and wife Nafisa jailed over death of baby daughter
A BLACKBURN couple have today been sentenced to five years each for child neglect and cruelty offences following the death of their seven month old twin baby girl who died in June 2009.
Mohammed Karolia, 29 and his wife Nafisa Karolia, 22 of Dickens Street, Blackburn both denied two charges of child neglect but were found guilty following a six week trial at Preston Crown Court.
Baby M was pronounced dead on 15th June 2009 after being admitted to the Royal Blackburn Hospital with breathing difficulties. A post mortem revealed she died from Bronchopneumonia which the jury decided was brought on by her debilitating injuries.
The court was told baby M sustained separate 18 injuries including damage to her spinal cord, fractured ribs, fractures to her arm and broken legs. An inquest in April 2010 recorded a narrative verdict.
“This was a truly horrific and tragic crime committed by two parents who have shown no remorse for their actions”
Her parents had tried to cover up her injuries by switching her with her twin sister and always presenting a healthy baby.
Det Insp Pete Broome from the Force Major Investigation Team said: “I am more than satisfied with the sentence passed down today for child cruelty and neglect.
“This was a truly horrific and tragic crime committed by two parents who have shown no remorse for their actions and have failed to offer any sort of explanation for what they did.
“This little girl suffered horrendous injuries by both her mother and father and tragically the surviving twin will grow up never knowing which twin she really is
