A three-month-old baby who died after being violently shaken had been on a child protection plan, jurors at the Old Bailey have heard.
Kaylani Kalanzi was admitted to Homerton Hospital in Hackney on 8 July 2024 after suffering catastrophic brain injuries, fractures to her leg and ribs, and damage to her eyes. She died 15 days later.
Her parents, Herbert Kalanzi, 35, and Nazli Merthoca, 24, from East Ham, deny murder and causing or allowing her death.
Social services involvement
Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC told the jury that Kaylani had already come to the attention of social services and was subject to a child protection plan due to concerns about her parents’ volatile relationship.
The couple were described as being in a “mutually abusive relationship”, with Merthoca also using drugs, making Kaylani particularly vulnerable.
“Each defendant knew that the other one posed a real risk to the children,” Ms Johnson said.
“One of them is lying. One of them did it. But only they know who the culprit is.”
She added that the primary issue for jurors would be to decide which parent was responsible for the fatal shaking.
The trial continues.
