Following the jailing of Fartun Jamal of Kinhfisher Way, Brent, for causing the death of her 11-month old baby, Wembley Matters asked Brent Council if Brent Social Services or Health visitors were involved with the family and whether there would be a Serious Cse Review.
Brent Council responded:
Brent Council is deeply saddened at the death of baby Nafahat due to the lack of appropriate care provided by her mother, who has now been convicted.
All agencies involved with the family reviewed their practice within a short period of time following Nafahat’s death in 2019. Brent Council’s social workers had acted appropriately when concerns about the care provided to her were first raised. When the criminal proceedings concluded recently, multi-agency safeguarding partners met to review learning from 2019. All safeguarding partners continue to work together to understand, learn and address the issue of parental neglect in the local area.
Metropolitan Police statement:
Fartun Jamal, 25 (10.09.96), of Kingfisher Way, Brent, was jailed for five years and six months at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, 29 April.
She was found guilty at the same court on Friday, 4 March of causing the death of Nafahat Diini as well as three counts of child cruelty following a trial.
Detective Chief Inspector Madeline Ryder, the senior investigating officer, said:
This is an absolutely tragic case that resulted in the needless death of an innocent baby.
The death of a child is an investigation that no police officer ever wishes to undertake. All of the officers and staff who were involved in the investigation have been left deeply affected by it. The investigation team, led by Detective Sergeant John Martin, worked tirelessly to get justice for Nafahat.
No child should ever have to suffer in this manner. Baby Nafahat was only 11 months old when she died in squalid conditions, surrounded by walls covered in faeces. She died of an illness that was very treatable if Jamal had bothered to seek medical attention. What is even more harrowing, is that her GP’s surgery was less than 70 metres away from where she died and could be seen from Nafahat’s bedroom window, so help was within very easy reach.
For the vast majority of parents, to care for, protect and nurture their children is their main priority. However, Jamal was out partying just days before Nafahat’s death and had clearly placed her social life above that of the basic needs of her baby.
There is no sentence long enough to justify the taking of a baby’s life, however I am pleased with the outcome of today’s sentencing. We hope that in some small way, this offers some comfort to Nafahat’s remaining family.
The court heard that police were called on 13 March 2019 by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) who requested assistance to a call made by Jamal stating that her daughter was not breathing.
Officers and the LAS attended and carried out first aid, but despite their best efforts Nafahat was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a respiratory tract infection (bronchitis complicated with pneumonia).
Upon opening the front door to the property, the officers commented on a strong smell of urine coming from inside.
In the bedroom where Nafahat was found, there was human faeces smeared on the walls and window. Nafahat’s cot had a broken and collapsed side and contained several blankets and duvets. The cot and bedding were all soaked in urine. The cot itself was a travel cot and was not a suitable bed for a child of Nafahat’s age.
In Jamal’s bedroom, officers found mouse droppings on her mattress and human faeces on the walls.
Several of the rooms contained carrier bags full of dirty nappies and plates of rotting food.
Officers searched the kitchen and found hardly any food. The only items in the fridge were two bottles of milk that were nearly empty. In the broken freezer was a melted carton of ice cream. On the windowsill was a container of cooked and congealed pasta that was being used as an ash tray.
Jamal told officers that she had offered Nafahat formula milk earlier that morning but she had refused it. However, officers found no formula milk in the flat.
There were no photos of Nafahat in the property and no toys were found.
The doctor who pronounced Nafahat dead told officers it was a case of neglect.
Jamal was arrested on suspicion of neglect and answered no comment to all questions. Detectives spent months working around the clock to secure evidence against Jamal and as a result she was charged on 17 December 2020 and convicted as above.
