A mother shook her two-year-old daughter to death before lying that she had choked on a biscuit, as both ‘sadistic’ parents were jailed today for abuse of the youngster.
Omra Wali Jan was injured repeatedly over a number of weeks in 2023 before dying in hospital on February 9, 2024.
She died from a traumatic brain injury caused by ‘extremely forceful shaking’ by her mother the previous November.
Morsal Mohammed Naim, 32, from Manchester, was today jailed at Manchester Crown Court for nine years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Omra last month.
Her father, Firooz Wali Jan, 32, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to six years and nine months after admitting child cruelty.
During her short life, Omra was subjected to a harrowing campaign of abuse including being beaten, bitten and burnt with a lighter.
On November 30, 2023, Naim had been at home alone with her daughter when a family member called emergency services and said the youngster had choked and wasn’t breathing.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and arrived within three minutes – but it took a further seven minutes before Naim opened the door.
Omra Wali Jan was injured repeatedly over a number of weeks in 2023 before dying in hospital on February 9, 2024
Omra, two, was beaten, bitten and burnt in the weeks before she suffered fatal injuries
After finally gaining access to the property, the paramedics found Omra unresponsive and in cardiac arrest – but no signs she had choked and nothing stuck in her airway.
She was revived and taken to Manchester Children’s Hospital, where scans confirmed she had suffered a devastating brain injury and also had a healing rib fracture.
The two-year-old did not regain consciousness and died a little over two months later. A post-mortem confirmed she had died from head injuries.
Naim originally told officers from Greater Manchester Police that she had been at home with Omra, who had been eating a biscuit, when she made a choking noise and fell over.
But her story changed the very next day when she told hospital staff Omra had hit her head as she fell, and said her daughter had fallen down the stairs two weeks previously – with no medical attention sought.
By December 29, Naim had told a consultant paediatrician that she had shaken Omra in an attempt to dislodge the biscuit.
And phone records showed on the day of Omra’s collapse she had made a number of phone calls to her husband’s family in Afghanistan and also attempted to call various family members before finally calling a distant relative. She eventually sought assistance from a neighbour.
During the police investigation into Omra’s injuries, images and videos were found on Naim’s phone detailing injuries to the toddler which included burn injuries to Omra’s right hand, bruising to her cheek and an injury to her lip.
Morsal Mohammed Naim, 32, was today jailed at Manchester Crown Court for nine years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Omra last month
Firooz Wali Jan, 32, has been sentenced to six years and nine months for child cruelty
At court, John Elvidge KC told how neither parent was ‘in the dark’ about the cruelty each had inflicted on little Omra.
He continued: ‘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.’
Mr Elvidge KC, prosecuting, asked for the court to sentence the parents on the basis that ‘all of these injuries were inflicted deliberately in the family home’, adding: ‘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.’
Caroline Carberry KC, defending Naim, said she had been raised in a rural area of Afghanistan, had no verified date of birth and no schooling.
Ms Carberry KC added: ‘She was living in a confined space with a husband she could not communicate with and who was abusive to her and their children. She was vulnerable and increasingly desperate.’
She added: ‘This was a momentary lapse of control from a mother who was under extreme stress and strain.’
Mitigating for Wali Jan, Adam Watkins said he had no direct responsibility for his daughter’s death.
Jailing 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 cited multiple incidents of serious cruelty, sadistic behaviour, use of a weapon, deliberate disregard for the welfare of the victim and failing to take steps to protect the victim.
After the sentencing, Alan Richardson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘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.
‘The Crown Prosecution Service worked with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case to put before the court, including witness testimony, phone downloads, expert reports and medical evidence. The strength of the evidence led Naim to admit causing her daughter’s death in the early stages of the trial.
‘Our thoughts are of Omra – whose young life was cut mercilessly short – and all those affected by her untimely death.’
Philip Reade, GMP’s senior investigating officer for the 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.’