Happy and smiling face of little woman, 2 tortured to demise by ‘sadistic dad and mom’
Omra Wali Jan died aged just two after being subjected to a campaign of abuse by her parents Morsal Mohammed Naim and Firooz Wali Jan, who were supposed to protect her
Omra Wali Jan died aged just two(Image: GMP)
The first images have been released of the tragic toddler who died at just two years old after suffering abuse at the hands of her parents. Omra Wali Jan was subjected to beatings, burns from a lighter and bites over several weeks in 2023.
She passed away on February 9, 2024, due to severe traumatic brain injuries inflicted by ‘extremely forceful shaking’ by her mother the previous November. More than two years after her death, Omra’s parents were sentenced to prison today (February 13) for their horrific cruelty.
Greater Manchester Police has now shared the first pictures of little Omra, taken ‘when she was being cared for by others, which show a happy, smiling, beautiful child’.
A court heard that whilst it is not clear exactly what each parent did, with the full extent of the abuse unknown, Morsal Mohammed Naim, 32, and husband Firooz Wali Jan, 32, pleaded guilty to child cruelty. Naim was charged with murdering Omra, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the third day of the trial, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“Neither parent was kept in the dark,” stated John Elvidge KC. “Both enabled and acquiesced in the forcible and deliberate infliction of severe injuries on Omra by one or both, over a period of time. With each extra attack, this complicity inevitably increased, permitting less and less differentiation of roles.”
Following a two-day sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court, Naim, of no fixed address, was imprisoned for nine years. Wali Jan, of Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, was sentenced to six years and nine months behind bars.
The judge highlighted the ‘sadistic behaviour’ in the case, alongside ‘multiple incidents of serious cruelty’.
Over several weeks, Omra endured systematic abuse, the court was told. Neither Naim nor Wali Jan have provided full details of their actions.
Evidence retrieved from Naim’s mobile phone exposed burn wounds to Omra’s right hand, facial bruising to her cheek, and damage to her lip. On November 30, 2023, Wali Jan departed for work, leaving Naim alone with the youngster.
Mobile records revealed she erased numerous calls made to her husband’s relatives in Afghanistan. At 5.44pm, Naim dispatched an audio message to another contact, which was subsequently removed.
She then attempted several failed calls to other family members before contacting a distant relation. Naim took the unconscious and breathless Omra upstairs to a neighbour.
The court was informed she dishonestly claimed to the woman that her child had choked on a biscuit. Emergency services were called.
Paramedics knocked on the window, but received no answer. They initially suspected it was a false alarm. Eventually, a neighbour responded and paramedics managed to resuscitate the child.
Omra had bruising and marks across her head and body. She was rushed to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where a CT scan showed she had sustained a catastrophic brain injury involving multifocal subdural haemorrhage; extensive hypoxic brain injury; and multiple retinal haemorrhages in the right eye.
Omra was intubated and put on a ventilator. Life support was withdrawn with High Court approval on February 9, 2024. A post-mortem examination determined she died from head injuries.
Mr Elvidge KC, prosecuting, requested the court sentence the parents on the basis that ‘all of these injuries were inflicted deliberately in the family home’, stating: “The injuries were caused with an implement used as a weapon or by biting.
“These injuries were not caused by a fleeting contact and they would have caused Omra to flinch or move away, if she could. When inflicted each injury would have caused extreme pain to Omra.”
He continued: “Neither parent reported these injuries to anyone or sought medical attention for them. Both parents lied about how and when injuries were inflicted and they have lied to protect each other.”
Sentencing the pair for their ‘sadistic behaviour’, Mr Justice Turner said of Naim: “Although you pleaded guilty to manslaughter very late in the day, you have never admitted anything about the following – why you attacked your daughter; what form the attack took, when and in what circumstances you did so; and what you did and for how long in the aftermath.”
The judge highlighted numerous instances of severe cruelty; sadistic conduct; weapon usage; deliberate neglect of the victim’s wellbeing; and failure to take protective measures.
Philip Reade, GMP’s senior investigating officer for this case, said: “Everyone who has been involved in this case has been deeply moved by the tragic circumstances of Omra’s death. The last few months of her life must have been truly miserable, being hurt by those who were meant to care for and protect her.
“This has been a challenging investigation spanning more than two years, involving countless medical and forensic experts. I would like to thank everyone for their efforts which have led to justice for Omra.
“Omra was so young, her parents should have been nurturing her, allowing her to grow into the child she would become. Instead, they completely neglected their moral duty to protect her.
“Their behaviour and attempts to mislead our investigation throughout have made this case even more horrifying, so we welcome the custodial sentences handed down today.
“The investigation team never knew Omra, but we have seen countless images of her when being cared for by others which show a happy, smiling, beautiful child and she is in our thoughts today and always.”
Alan Richardson from the Crown Prosecution Service stated: “Morsal Mohammed Naim not only shook her daughter to death, but then lied about what she had done.
“As her mother, Naim should have cared for two-year old Omra Wali Jan, and kept her safe. Instead, she inflicted the catastrophic injuries that caused Omra’s death. It is a killing almost impossible to comprehend in its cruelty and sheer senselessness..
“Our thoughts are of Omra – whose young life was cut mercilessly short – and all those affected by her untimely death.”
