Trial Opens for Parents Accused of Killing 3-Month-Old in East London

A harrowing trial has opened at the Old Bailey, revealing the tragic death of a three-month-old baby girl, Kaylani Kalanzi, who was allegedly killed as a result of her parents' "mutually abusive" and toxic relationship. The court was told that Kaylani, who was on a child protection plan, suffered catastrophic brain injuries, a broken leg, and broken ribs before she died in hospital 15 days after being violently shaken on July 8 last year.

Her parents, Herbert Kalanzi, 35, and Nazli Merthoca, 24, from East Ham, are now on trial accused of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC described Kaylani's injuries as the "culmination of a short life lived in an abusive and dangerous environment." She told jurors that the couple's relationship had "spiralled out of control," with Kaylani "caught up in the middle of it."

The court heard disturbing details of the parents' volatile dynamic, which came to light through messages on WhatsApp and Snapchat. Just weeks before the fatal incident, on June 17, Kalanzi allegedly messaged Merthoca, complaining about being locked out and saying, "If you go police u lose everything. Moving like social aren't onto us about domestic." Merthoca, in turn, accused Kalanzi of harming their child, writing, "You hurt Kaylani eye. Wtf I'm reporting this. You gave her a black eye. And blood." A Snapchat video taken shortly after allegedly showed Kaylani with a visible eye injury, with Merthoca searching the internet for "what to do if baby had blood shot eye."

Despite this earlier injury, which the couple later attributed to an accident with a rattle, the court was told it was a "graphic example" of their inability to properly care for and protect their child. The jury heard that social services were involved with the family, and Kaylani had been on a child protection plan. This highlights a critical and often tragic issue where the safeguards put in place by social services may not be enough to prevent harm when parents are in denial or actively concealing abuse.

This case tragically illustrates a broader issue seen in communities across the UK, including among British Bangladeshi and other British South Asian and Muslim communities in East London, particularly in areas like Tower Hamlets. While specific details of abuse within these communities are not always public, domestic violence and its devastating impact on children remain a significant concern. Organisations like Kiran Support Services in East London provide vital, culturally sensitive support to South Asian women and children affected by domestic abuse. Their work underscores the fact that cultural barriers, fear of social stigma, and language difficulties can often prevent families from seeking or receiving the help they desperately need, leaving vulnerable children exposed to harm.

The trial continues to hear evidence from medical experts who have ruled out accidental injury as the cause of Kaylani’s death. The prosecution has stated that as there were no witnesses, it is for the jury to determine which of the parents, or both, is responsible for the fatal actions. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic abuse and the critical need for a more robust and responsive support system to protect the most vulnerable members of society.