Mother who shook daughter to death jailed

A mother who shook her two-year-old daughter to death and then told police she had choked on a biscuit has been jailed.

Omra Wali Jan died from a brain injury after being found unconscious in her Manchester home in November 2023. She was found with burns and bruises on her body, along with a fractured rib.

Morsal Mohammed Naim, 32, was sentenced to nine years after pleading guilty to manslaughter and child cruelty in January.

Omra's father, Firooz Wali Jan, 32, who had earlier pleaded guilty to child cruelty, was also jailed for six years and nine months.

Investigating officer Philip Reade described the case as "horrifying" - adding that Omra's parents had "neglected their moral duty to protect her".

Police were called to reports of an unresponsive child in Levenshulme on 30 November 2023.

Warning: This article contains distressing details

Manchester Crown Court heard how Naim had told paramedics that Omra had choked while eating a biscuit in the living room.

But later doctors treating her in hospital found she had unexplained injuries, including burns and bruises.

Further scans showed the toddler had a fractured rib and a brain injury.

Doctors suspected Omra had been shaken, and her head had possibly struck a hard solid surface.

Naim was the only adult present when Omra received the head injury, which she died from three months later in February 2024, Greater Manchester Police said.

Her mother continued to protest her innocence, but was charged.

Omra's father was arrested in April 2024 in relation to the burn injuries and bruising that Omra had suffered.

He denied any wrongdoing but was later charged with child cruelty.

Police said he gave "implausible accounts" as to how the injuries had been caused.

Following the sentencing hearing, Reade said: "Everyone who has been involved in this case has been deeply moved by the tragic circumstances of Omra's death.

"The last few months of her life must have been truly miserable, being hurt by those who were meant to care for and protect her."

He said it had been a "challenging investigation" involving medical and forensic experts.

"Omra was so young, her parents should have been nurturing her, allowing her to grow into the child she would become," he said.

"Instead, they completely neglected their moral duty to protect her."

Alan Richardson, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said it was a killing which was "impossible to comprehend in its cruelty and sheer senselessnes".

"Morsal Mohammed Naim not only shook her daughter to death, but then lied about what she had done," he added.

"As her mother, Naim should have cared for two-year old Omra Wali Jan, and kept her safe.

"Instead, she inflicted the catastrophic injuries that caused Omra's death."

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