A couple from Blackburn, Lancashire, who swapped their twin babies to conceal injuries that led to one daughter's death, have been found guilty of child cruelty. Mohammed and Nafisa Karolia, aged 29 and 22 respectively, were convicted at Preston Crown Court after a five-week trial. The judge, Mr Justice Irwin, warned them to expect a substantial prison sentence when they are sentenced in October.
The court heard that the couple deceived health professionals and social services by swapping the twins during home visits to hide unexplained injuries on the baby who later died. The deceased twin, referred to as Twin M, suffered multiple fractures, skull damage, and other injuries before dying of bronchopneumonia in June 2009 at seven months old. The surviving twin cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Prosecutor Joe Boyd said the swap was uncovered through discrepancies in head, weight, and height measurements. The couple had never provided a plausible explanation for the injuries, which included rib, leg, and arm fractures, as well as damage to the brain and central nervous system. The prosecution argued that the number and timing of injuries pointed to deliberate infliction by one or both parents.
Detective Inspector Pete Broome of Lancashire Police described the case as 'one of the most extreme' he had encountered, calling the crime 'bestial'. He noted that the surviving twin may never know her true identity at birth, adding that leaving a child with such injuries was 'abhorrent'. The judge adjourned the case for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.
