Council defends leaving tragic Afghan refugee Zahra with killer

Social providers knew tragic Afghan refugee toddler Zahra Ghulami was dwelling in a household residence of violence – however nonetheless allowed her to stick with the daddy who would later homicide her.

Serious questions had been laid on the door of Kent County Council and its groups after her adoptive mum or dad was convicted yesterday of killing her in a foul rage.

Brute Jan Ghulami instructed one social employee and a police officer that he beat his spouse typically by slapping her or banging her head towards a wall, and he or she was scared he would kill her. 

Chillingly it was precisely the identical methodology he would use to homicide harmless two-year-old Zahra.

Ghulami had even served time in jail for earlier incidents involving his spouse Roquia – discovered responsible of kid neglect – together with one the place he punched her within the face on the street, a court docket had heard.

But there was no concerted effort to take away the youngsters from the 2 abusive dad and mom’ care.

Two-year-old Zahra was killed by her adoptive father after she suffered a fractured cranium at her residence in 2020 

Jan Gholami (pictured) and his spouse Roqia Ghulami have been on trial for the homicide of Zahra Ghulami at their Gravesend residence in May 2020. Gholami was discovered responsible of homicide 

And at this time Kent County Council defiantly stated his violent behaviour had not handed the edge for separation.

In a rare assertion a spokesperson insisted to MailOnline: ‘Kent Children’s Services had been working with the household below a baby in want plan and held common conferences with the household and associate businesses to progress the multi-agency plan.

‘Partner businesses concerned in a baby in want plan will embrace well being, schooling and another concerned professionals who could also be in common contact with a household.

‘Children can solely be faraway from dad and mom if the native authority can proof that the excessive threshold for separation is met and applies to the court docket for an Order.’  

During the trial jurors had been proven {a photograph} of little Zahra, in addition to her adoption certificates dated July 15, 2017, which had been permitted by elders in Afghanistan following the loss of life of her organic mom.

Gholami claimed that Zahra’s actual father was his buddy and that he was within the UK when her adoption happened.

At the top of January 2018, Gholami was granted depart to stay within the UK after first arriving in 2016 and telling immigration officers the household was fleeing the Taliban.

The little woman was taken to hospital with accidents on May 27 2020 and he or she died two days later. Pictured: Zahra being taken to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford by Gholami

He additionally claimed he was leaving as a result of his spouse’s household disapproved of their marriage, which was deemed ‘unlawful’ and carried a penalty of stoning.

A 12 months later spouse Ghulami utilized for asylum within the UK.

She was interviewed in January 2019 and instructed officers from the Home Office that she had three kids, together with Zahra.

She was helped by the Red Cross, which funded her journey to the UK below a ‘reunion visa’ scheme, and arrived in May 2019.

The jury heard how the charity then made a request for help to Kent County Council.

In February 2020, the household moved to a different residence in Gravesend only a few weeks earlier than Zahra died.

Gholami stated he had been at Tesco however when he received again his son stated Zahra had fallen down the steps and was vomiting. 

When he was quizzed by police he cynically produced a receipt and declared: ‘I’m a Muslim. You cannot blame me for these items. There are cameras. Whatever occurred I used to be not at residence.’ 

His spouse Ghulami didn’t give proof in court docket but in addition had instructed police Zahra fell down the steps. 

In actuality he had bashed the toddler’s ‘head towards a wall’ in a livid rage.

She suffered from a extreme cranium fracture attributable to ‘important influence with important vitality’ at his fingers.

After the case senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Ross Gurden stated: ‘Zahra had her life taken away from her by two people who had a responsibility to love and care for her.

‘Jan inflicted the injuries on Zahra whilst Roqia was completely aware of his behaviour and failed to intervene and prevent Zahra from being injured.

‘Zahra would have been six now, she would have started school and would be learning about the world around her, but instead her young life was cut short through violence inflicted by Jan, who should have been caring for her.

‘I want to commend the jury who were a part of this trial. Incidents like this are thankfully rare but they played a hugely important role in securing justice for the very people who betrayed Zahra.’