A British woman who caused catastrophic head injuries to her seven-week-old daughter, who later died from abuse-related complications, has been jailed for life.Sarah Ngaba, 32, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday for the murder of her daughter Eliza. The court heard the baby suffered severe brain and skull injuries in November 2019, leaving her permanently disabled and medically vulnerable, the BBC reported.Eliza died of a respiratory infection in 2022 at the age of two. Prosecutors said the infection proved fatal due to fatal injuries inflicted by her mother nearly three years earlier.Sentencing, Judge Brenner said Eliza had been deprived of the chance of a normal life and concluded Abba had attacked the baby in a fit of rage.“You are a whiny, angry person,” the judge said, adding that Abba never truthfully described what happened to her daughter.Abba admitted responsibility for the injuries but denied murder. A jury rejected her defense and found her guilty after a trial in May.Medical evidence presented in the case showed that Eliza’s injuries were consistent with shock and impact trauma. Prosecutor Lisa Hancox KC told the court the injuries were caused by two different mechanisms, suggesting it was a sustained attack rather than a single act.The court heard Aba delayed seeking help after the attack and instead went to a shop to buy a lottery ticket before taking a taxi to take the seriously injured baby to hospital.In 2021, Abba was jailed for causing grievous bodily harm and Eliza was sent to foster care as a result of the attack. Despite being severely disabled, the child was cared for by adoptive parents Laura and Gary Haynes until her death.Sentencing comments praised the couple for providing Eliza with a stable and loving home. The judge described them as “amazing” and said they brought happiness and security to the little girl’s life.In a statement released by West Mercia Police, Eliza’s foster family said: “Our time with Eliza was far too short and our hearts are broken. We are honored to be Eliza’s family. We love her very much and miss her terribly every day. “Detective Chief Inspector Lee Holehouse called the case “heartbreaking” and said Eliza would suffer the consequences of the violence for the rest of her life.He said: “Aba’s life sentence reflects not only the severity of the harm suffered by Eliza, but also the cruelty of her childhood being taken away from the man who should have loved and cherished her.”Abba was sentenced to life in prison, but the minimum term was reduced to take into account time already served on the original assault conviction.
