Westminster Mother Charged with Murder After Baby Thrown from Window
An 18-day-old baby suffered a fatal head injury after allegedly being thrown from a window by her mother, a court has heard. Baby Mariam died on Saturday after plunging 32 feet from her family's third-floor flat on Horseferry Road in Westminster.
Her mother, Zahira Byjaouane, 43, has been charged with murder. Paramedics and police rushed to the scene in central London at 7:30 am after receiving a 999 call made by Byjaouane's husband, who reported that a baby had fallen from a window.
Critical Condition and Tragic Outcome
Maryam was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died approximately an hour and a half later after suffering a fractured skull. Police found Byjaouane sitting on a bed in the flat. She was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and then charged with murder on Sunday.
The baby’s father was present in the flat but was said to have been in the kitchen making baby formula when the defendant allegedly threw the baby from a sash window. According to Mr. McGhee, the husband ran outside and tried unsuccessfully to reach Mariam before returning inside and calling 999.
Scene of the Incident and Investigation
Flowers, including tulips and roses, and a soft toy animal were laid at the scene on Saturday near the Peabody Estate building. An officer in a blue forensic suit was seen in a grey van parked down the road, which was closed off to traffic. Two forensic officers were working in the third-floor flat on Saturday evening.
The street is also home to a number of government buildings, including the Department for Transport's offices, adding a somber note to the area's usual bustle.
Legal Proceedings and Future Hearings
During the hearing, Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a timetable for the case with a plea hearing on June 3 and a provisional 10-day trial before him from February 15, 2027. The judge remanded the defendant into custody. Byjaouane was due to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday morning but was unable to attend the hearing.
This tragic event has shocked the local community and raised questions about child safety and mental health support in urban areas. The investigation continues as authorities work to gather all evidence for the upcoming trial.
