Mother Jailed for Murder
Mother Sentenced to Life for Baby Eliza's Murder, Delayed Medical Aid
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Key Points
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During the trial, Ngaba accepted she caused “dreadful, life-shortening and life-limiting” head injuries but denied murder, arguing she was instead guilty of infanticide—an argument rejected by the jury.
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Prosecutors said Ngaba concealed what she had done by “lying to medics and police” when Eliza was taken for medical help.
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Evidence described what happened in the lead-up to hospital: a witness who saw Eliza on a video call the morning of the assault “could see that her body was shaking,” and the defendant was told to take her to hospital immediately.
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The sentencing coverage also included detailed timing from recordings: doorbell footage showed Ngaba leaving at 8:40am; CCTV from a local supermarket showed her buying a lottery ticket and getting cashback at 8:59am; the taxi arrived at 9:05am and the driver described her as “very calm” and not “seeming worried.”
A Birmingham mother was sentenced to life in prison on June 12, 2024, for murdering her seven-week-old daughter — a baby she shook violently, fractured her skull, and then left in critical condition while she went to buy a lottery ticket. Sarah Ngaba, 32, must serve at least 12 years and 154 days before she can be considered for parole, according to Daily Mail.
Eliza Ngaba survived the 2019 assault but died in August 2022 at age two from a respiratory infection. Prosecutors said her brain injuries left her unable to fight the illness. A fresh murder charge followed her death, leading to Ngaba's conviction at Birmingham Crown Court, AOL News reported.
19 Minutes That Sealed the Murder Conviction
At 8:40am on November 13, 2019, doorbell footage showed Ngaba leaving her Solihull home after the assault. By 8:59am, CCTV caught her inside a local supermarket buying a lottery ticket and getting cashback. A taxi arrived at 9:05am. The driver later told police she seemed "very calm" and showed no sign of worry, according to Express.
A witness on a video call that morning could already see Eliza shaking and told Ngaba to go to hospital immediately. Instead of calling an ambulance, Ngaba ran a bath and made other stops before arranging the taxi. Mrs. Justice Brunner KC said Ngaba "prioritized herself over her daughter" and failed to give Eliza her best chance at survival, AOL UK reported.
Infanticide Defense Rejected: Jury Finds Deliberate Murder
Ngaba admitted she caused "dreadful, life-shortening and life-limiting" head injuries to Eliza. But she denied murder. Her lawyers argued she suffered from a disturbed mind caused by the effects of childbirth — a defense known as infanticide, which carries a lighter sentence than murder. The jury rejected it, Daily Mail reported.
Prosecutor Jonas Hankin KC told the court that Ngaba hid what she had done by "lying to medics and police" when Eliza arrived at hospital. Mrs. Justice Brunner described the killing as the "culmination of increasingly hostile behaviour" toward the infant. The judge's words pointed to a pattern, not a moment of madness, according to Express.
How a 2019 Assault Became a 2024 Murder Charge
Ngaba was first convicted in 2021 for causing grievous bodily harm — the violent shaking and skull fracture. She received a 14-year sentence for that crime. But Eliza did not die until August 2022. Under English law, a new murder charge can follow if the original injuries are a significant cause of the victim's death, AOL News reported.
Police launched a fresh investigation after Eliza died. Medical experts concluded that the brain damage from Ngaba's 2019 assault left Eliza unable to clear her airways during the respiratory infection that killed her. That medical link — from a 2019 beating to a 2022 death — was the foundation of the murder conviction, according to AOL UK.
Two Years of Love Before Eliza Died
After the assault, Eliza was placed with foster parents Laura and Gary Haynes. Eliza lived with severe disabilities. She was blind and could not sit or speak. She spent nearly three years in the Haynes family home before she died in August 2022. Mrs. Justice Brunner praised the couple for giving Eliza "love and the best of lives in the time she had left," Daily Mail reported.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood of West Midlands Police said Eliza's injuries were "some of the most severe" she had seen in her career. She added that Ngaba "has never fully explained what happened that morning." Ngaba will be eligible for parole review after 12 years and 154 days but will remain on license for the rest of her life, according to Express.
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