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.