A mother described as “callous and uncaring” has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her seven-week-old daughter by shattering her skull in a violent rage. Sarah Ngaba, 32, was given a minimum term of 12 years and 154 days after a judge condemned her actions as “the culmination of increasingly hostile behaviour” towards the infant.
Attack and Aftermath
The court heard that Ngaba inflicted severe injuries on baby Eliza in November 2019, including violent shaking and a blow to the head. Despite the critical condition of her daughter, Ngaba visited a shop to purchase a lottery ticket before seeking medical help. Eliza, who was born in London, suffered from an infection linked to the injuries and died in August 2022.
Legal Proceedings
Ngaba, formerly of Briarwood in Brookside, Telford, Shropshire, was found guilty of murder last month. In 2021, she had already been jailed for 14 years for wounding in connection with the same attack. The murder charge was brought after Eliza’s death.
Judge Mr Justice Martin described the killing as a tragic outcome of persistent cruelty. He noted Ngaba’s lack of remorse and her priority of buying a lottery ticket over saving her child’s life.
The case has drawn widespread condemnation, with child protection charities urging stronger safeguards for vulnerable infants. Ngaba will serve a life sentence with the possibility of parole only after the minimum term expires.
