Gravesend Dad Jailed for Life Over Adopted Toddler’s Murder
Jan Gholami, 33, has been handed a life sentence for the shocking murder of his adopted two-year-old daughter, Zahra Ghulami. He must serve at least 23 years and 6 months before parole is even considered. His partner, Roqia Ghulami, 32, received two years behind bars for child neglect.
Tragic Death After Horrific Injuries
The heart-wrenching case began on 27 May 2020. Little Zahra was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries but sadly died two days later. The couple had adopted her from their native Afghanistan before settling in the UK.
Doctors raised immediate alarms over Zahra’s condition, leading to both parents’ arrests the same day. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate swiftly took charge, charging the couple with murder.
Damning Evidence Overturned Claims of Accident
During the trial, Gholami insisted he was innocent. He claimed he found Zahra injured after a food shopping trip and that Roqia said Zahra fell down the stairs. But medical experts demolished this account, revealing not only fresh life-threatening injuries but also older fractures—skull, arm, and shoulder blade—indicative of ongoing abuse.
Experts concluded Zahra’s fatal injury was likely caused by being violently thrown against a hard surface, not a mere fall.
Domestic Violence and Neglect Emerge in Trial
Further evidence revealed prior abuse by Gholami towards Roqia and substantial neglect of Zahra, sealing the couple’s fate.
Detective Inspector Ross Gurden said: “Zahra would have believed she was loved and cared for. She trusted her guardians but was betrayed in the most brutal way.”
He praised the jury’s attention and stressed the verdict holds the killers accountable, though it cannot undo the tragedy.
The harsh sentencing was handed down at Maidstone Crown Court on 16 February 2024—a grim reminder of the vital need to protect vulnerable children and punish those who harm them.
