A Hackney mother has been convicted of killing her baby daughter following a harrowing investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service. The case, which unfolded over several months, exposed a deeply disturbing pattern of violence, deception, and neglect that culminated in the death of three-month-old Kaylani Kalanzi. At the Old Bailey, 24-year-old Nazli Merthoca was found guilty of manslaughter, bringing to light one of London’s most distressing cases of infant abuse in recent memory.
A Tragic Night in Hackney: The Emergency Call That Sparked a Murder Investigation
Shortly before 22:30 on Monday, 8 July 2024, paramedics were called to an address on Homerton High Street, Hackney. The emergency call came from Nazli Merthoca, who claimed that her infant daughter, Kaylani Kalanzi, had stopped breathing. When medical personnel arrived, they found the baby in critical condition and immediately transported her to Homerton Hospital. Despite resuscitation efforts, Kaylani was unresponsive and suffering from catastrophic injuries.
Hospital staff quickly realised that Kaylani’s condition was not consistent with natural illness. Scans revealed severe brain damage, with injuries suggesting that the child had been violently shaken. The extent and pattern of trauma raised grave concerns, prompting staff to alert the police. Within hours, the case was escalated from a medical emergency to a criminal investigation.
The following day, Tuesday, 9 July, officers from the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command attended the family home. Nazli Merthoca was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after initial evidence and medical reports indicated that the injuries were the result of deliberate violence rather than accident. Body-worn camera footage from the arrest showed Merthoca reacting with anger and hostility toward the officers, denying any wrongdoing and asserting that her daughter had simply fallen ill.
During questioning, Nazli Merthoca maintained that she had done nothing to harm her baby, claiming that Kaylani had suddenly stopped breathing while in her care. However, inconsistencies in her story and the medical findings raised further doubts. Forensic specialists and child protection experts confirmed that the injuries could not have been caused by any kind of accidental fall or sudden illness. The force and mechanism of the trauma were instead characteristic of violent shaking — a finding later confirmed by postmortem analysis.
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As the investigation progressed, Kaylani’s condition deteriorated. She was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she remained on life support. Despite the best efforts of doctors, she never regained consciousness. On Tuesday, 23 July, at around 18:00, Kaylani was pronounced dead. She was just three months old.
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A specialist postmortem examination carried out on 30 July confirmed the worst fears of the investigating officers. The forensic pathologist determined that Kaylani Kalanzi had died from blunt force trauma consistent with severe shaking. There was no evidence of any natural cause. The findings were incompatible with her mother’s version of events and conclusively pointed to violent assault. The investigation that followed uncovered not only the physical evidence of abuse but also a deeply troubling glimpse into Merthoca’s behaviour and mindset in the weeks leading up to the fatal incident.
A Web of Lies: Digital Evidence Exposes the Truth Behind the Tragedy
As part of their investigation, detectives seized Nazli Merthoca’s electronic devices, including her phone and laptop. A forensic search of these devices revealed a disturbing pattern of behaviour that prosecutors later described as “toxic, abusive, and controlling.” Messages, searches, and digital activity painted a stark picture of a young mother who was increasingly overwhelmed, angry, and volatile.
Investigators found evidence that Nazli Merthoca had searched online for information related to infant crying and sleep difficulties but had also accessed material suggesting frustration and resentment toward her child. In private messages, she expressed anger about her situation, her relationship, and the demands of caring for a newborn. These findings were presented at trial as indicative of her emotional instability and growing hostility toward her baby.
Her partner, 35-year-old Herbert Kalanzi of Ranelagh Road, Newham, was also arrested and charged in connection with the case. However, after careful examination of the evidence, the prosecution determined that he had not been directly involved in the assault. The jury subsequently cleared him of murder, manslaughter, and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors detailed how Nazli Merthoca attempted to deceive medical staff and investigators in the aftermath of the incident. She fabricated stories about the night of the assault, claiming that Kaylani Kalanzi had suddenly become unresponsive without any provocation. However, her explanations were contradicted by the scientific evidence. The nature of the infant’s injuries — including bleeding within the brain and behind the eyes — could not be reconciled with her account.
Detective Inspector John Marriott, who led the investigation, described the case as among the most distressing he had encountered in his career. “Merthoca carried out a horrific assault on her own child,” he said following the verdict. “To add insult, she then spun a web of lies to the emergency services in order to cover up her responsibility. Though Kaylani’s life was cut short by this hideous abuse, there were relatives who loved and cared for her. They have been left traumatised by her killing, and our thoughts are with them at this time.”
The investigative process was meticulous and exhaustive. Detectives reviewed hundreds of hours of digital content, phone records, and forensic reports to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the assault. The evidence, once compiled, formed what prosecutors called “an unambiguous picture of guilt.” The combination of medical testimony, digital analysis, and behavioural evidence left little doubt as to the cause of Kaylani’s fatal injuries.
In court, the jury heard from multiple expert witnesses who explained how “shaken baby syndrome” — more accurately referred to as abusive head trauma — causes rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain within the skull. This results in swelling, bleeding, and irreversible damage. The experts testified that the force required to inflict such injuries could not occur accidentally or through normal handling. The trauma, they said, was the result of violent and deliberate shaking.
Despite the weight of the evidence, Nazli Merthoca continued to deny responsibility. Her defence attempted to argue that the injuries could have been sustained through an accidental fall or medical complication, but these claims were comprehensively dismissed by the experts. The jury, after careful deliberation, found her guilty of manslaughter on Tuesday, 14 October.
Justice for Kaylani: A Difficult Case and a Cautionary Lesson
The verdict brought a measure of justice to a case that had devastated all who encountered it. Detective Inspector Marriott praised the work of his team, noting the emotional and psychological toll such investigations take on officers. “Offences against children – especially of this gravity – are some of the most difficult cases police deal with,” he said. “The evidence here was particularly harrowing and complex, and I would like to commend the investigation team for their work bringing Merthoca to justice.”
Kaylani Kalanzi’s death highlighted once again the tragic vulnerability of infants and the necessity of vigilance in detecting signs of abuse. Cases involving very young victims are among the most challenging in the criminal justice system because the victims cannot speak for themselves, and their injuries often occur behind closed doors. The outcome of this case was only possible because of the coordinated response between hospital staff, forensic experts, and specialist investigators.
Child protection advocates have long emphasised the importance of education and awareness around the dangers of shaking infants. Even brief episodes of violent shaking can cause catastrophic brain injury or death. In many cases, such actions arise from a caregiver’s frustration at persistent crying, a common challenge for new parents. Experts note that public health messaging around coping strategies, parental support, and early intervention is crucial in preventing such tragedies.
The trial also shed light on the often-overlooked psychological factors that can contribute to abuse in domestic environments. Witnesses described Nazli Merthoca as isolated and under strain, though these circumstances could not excuse or explain the brutality of her actions. The prosecution made clear that her frustration turned into rage and violence, culminating in an assault so severe that it destroyed her daughter’s brain function.
In the months following Kaylani’s death, her extended family struggled to come to terms with their loss. Relatives who had cared deeply for the baby were left traumatised, their grief compounded by the knowledge that the harm came from within the home. While the court’s verdict offered closure, it could not undo the irreversible loss of a young life filled with potential.
Nazli Merthoca will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, 15 December. The court will determine the length of her custodial sentence based on the severity of the offence and the aggravating factors revealed during trial. Sentencing guidelines for manslaughter involving child victims typically reflect the high level of culpability associated with intentional harm, particularly when the victim is defenceless.
The case has reignited discussion among professionals in child welfare, law enforcement, and public health about how best to identify at-risk infants and intervene before violence occurs. Specialists argue that while the majority of parents and caregivers never resort to physical harm, those who do often show warning signs — stress, isolation, or a history of domestic turbulence — that can be detected if proper support systems are in place.
As this case demonstrated, medical staff play a crucial role in uncovering abuse. The swift response from Homerton Hospital and Great Ormond Street medical teams ensured that police were alerted promptly, allowing investigators to secure evidence before it was lost. Their vigilance transformed what might have been dismissed as an unexplained medical emergency into a fully investigated homicide.
In the broader context, Kaylani Kalanzi’s death serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the profound responsibility that comes with caring for children. The court proceedings have brought to light not only the specific acts of violence committed by her mother but also the social and emotional circumstances that can, if unaddressed, lead to tragedy.
While justice has been served through the conviction, the human cost remains immeasurable. A child who never had the chance to grow, laugh, or speak has become the silent centre of a case that underscores both the cruelty and the vulnerability inherent in such crimes. For investigators, prosecutors, and family members alike, the verdict marks the end of a painful chapter — but the lessons it leaves behind will resonate far beyond the courtroom.