Woman guilty of murdering her two-month-old baby

A woman has been found guilty of murdering her two-month-old baby.

Zara Arsalan, 31, from Birmingham, had denied killing baby Harleen in 2020, but was convicted on Friday after a trial at Coventry Crown Court.

West Midlands Police said a post mortem found the baby had multiple skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, fractured ribs and a fractured collar bone.

Det Ch Insp Phil Poole said: "She died at the hands of the person who should have been doing everything to keep her safe."

The force said on 23 July 2020, emergency services were called to a property in West Bromwich where Arsalan was living at the time. Crews had received reports of a baby girl becoming unresponsive after falling from her mother's lap.

Paramedics found Harleen's breathing was unstable, and she had a serious head injury.

She was taken to hospital, but died the next day.

However, a post mortem examination found her injuries were not consistent with a fall, but were more consistent with coming into contact with a hard surface.

Harleen was also likely shaken, the post mortem concluded and Zara Arsalan was arrested and later charged with Harleen's murder.

Det Ch Insp Poole said it had been "an incredibly tragic case" and the police officers who investigated had been "deeply affected" by it.

He also said: "Arsalan has never taken responsibility for her actions.

"Instead, she has repeatedly lied about what happened to Harleen despite being shown evidence that rejects her claims."

Arsalan is due to be sentenced on 12 March.

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