{"id":1643,"date":"2026-05-11T14:34:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/mum-accused-of-murdering-baby-bought-lottery-ticket-before-taking-tot-to-hospital\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T14:34:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:34:42","slug":"mum-accused-of-murdering-baby-bought-lottery-ticket-before-taking-tot-to-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/mum-accused-of-murdering-baby-bought-lottery-ticket-before-taking-tot-to-hospital\/","title":{"rendered":"Mum accused of murdering baby &#8216;bought lottery ticket before taking tot to hospital&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_5699b0\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Sarah Ngaba, 32, is accused of murdering her baby daughter who died from an infection aged two in August 2022 after her injuries left her vulnerable, a court heard<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37047564\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Birmingham Crown Court\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7_Birmingham-Crown-Court.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Birmingham Crown Court (file)\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Birmingham Crown Court (file)<cite aria-label=\"Image: Birmingham Mail\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Birmingham Mail)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A mother who killed her baby daughter by fracturing her skull took a bath and bought a lottery ticket before taking her to hospital in a taxi, a court has heard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sarah Ngaba, 32, accepts she caused \u201cdreadful, life-shortening and life-limiting\u201d head injuries to seven-week-old Eliza but denies murder, claiming she is instead guilty of infanticide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court were told the sole issue for them to decide is whether the balance of Ngaba\u2019s mind was disturbed at the time of the attack, and if that disturbance was partly caused by a failure to fully recover from the effects of giving birth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Opening the case against Ngaba on Monday, prosecutor Jonas Hankin KC said Eliza died aged two in August 2022 from an infection after her injuries left her vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The court heard Eliza was born in Homerton Hospital in east London on September 19 2019 because Ngaba, who was living in Shropshire, wanted to be near family members during childbirth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After Ngaba had returned to Telford, the court heard, Eliza was taken to hospital after being attacked on the morning of November 13 2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Hankin told the court Ngaba, formerly of Briarwood in Brookside, Telford, was previously convicted of causing grievous bodily harm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Crown\u2019s KC said it was agreed that head injuries inflicted by Ngaba were \u201ca cause\u201d of Eliza\u2019s death as they had left her profoundly disabled and vulnerable to severe complications from infection, including death.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Hankin said: \u201cThat is what happened \u2013 she died from a respiratory infection, but she would not have died from that infection had she not been rendered vulnerable by the injuries inflicted by her mother.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThere is, therefore, no dispute that the defendant unlawfully caused Eliza Ngaba\u2019s death and she intended to cause her really serious harm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe only issue in this trial is whether the defence of infanticide applies. If it does, the defendant is guilty of infanticide. If it does not, she is guilty of murder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Outlining the evidence the Crown relies on, Mr Hankin told the court a witness who saw Eliza on a video call on the morning of November 13 2019 \u201ccould see that her body was shaking\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The man advised Ngaba to take Eliza to hospital straight away but the defendant said she needed to have a bath and did not call an ambulance, the court heard. Mr Hankin added: \u201cInstead at 8.13am she rang a taxi company.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cShe was told that no taxi was available until 8.50am and that, if she needed to get to hospital sooner, she would have to make alternative arrangements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cDespite that she settled for the taxi at 8.50am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Doorbell footage caught Ngaba leaving her flat at 8.40am, jurors heard, while footage from a local supermarket at 8.59am showed her buying a lottery ticket and obtaining cashback.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The taxi driver, Mr Hankin said, arrived at 9.05am and described the defendant as being very calm and not seeming worried. \u201cWhen they arrived at hospital, she was calm and did not rush,\u201d Mr Hankin said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Hankin said of the defendant\u2019s alleged behaviour at the hospital: \u201cIn triage and afterwards, staff described the defendant as annoyed, detached and concerned about housing rather than her baby\u2019s medical emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The prosecutor continued: \u201cThe prosecution says that this sequence of events is important.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cEliza was visibly shaking. The defendant was told to take her to A&amp;E. An ambulance was suggested. She didn\u2019t call one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cShe chose to bathe and dress first, accepted a delayed taxi, went to a supermarket, bought a lottery ticket, travelled calmly to hospital, and did not even rush when she got there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThat evidence is difficult to reconcile with the suggestion that the assault on Eliza was the product of an acute childbirth-caused disturbance of mind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt is more consistent with a lack of urgency, with detachment, self-concern, and a failure simply to prioritise her daughter\u2019s welfare.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ngaba is alleged to have told a nursing sister that Eliza had not fed since around 5am and to have made no reference to her having suffered any sort of physical trauma.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Hankin told jurors: \u201cThe impression she gave was that Eliza was simply unwell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s important because Eliza\u2019s neurological injuries were so severe that after they had been inflicted she could not have behaved normally, interacted normally, or fed normally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWhen Eliza was taken out of the pram, the nurse immediately saw she was in a state of collapse: pale, unresponsive, gasping and having seizures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIndeed she was concerned that Eliza was about to die and she required immediate emergency resuscitation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The court heard Eliza\u2019s injuries were caused by forceful shaking \u201ctogether with a very significant impact\u201d to the head, causing a complex skull fracture.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Referring to Ngaba\u2019s claim of infanticide, Mr Hankin added: \u201cThe defence will say that, at the time of the assault, the balance of the defendant\u2019s mind was disturbed, and it was disturbed at least in part because she had not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe prosecution says the evidence does not justify such a conclusion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe prosecution says that when the evidence is looked at carefully, the true picture is not one of a childbirth-related disturbance of mind \u2013 it is one of anger, frustration, resentment and a loss of self-control.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The trial continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/sarahngaba-murder-trial-baby-37141078\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sarah Ngaba, 32, is accused of murdering her baby daughter who died from an infection<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778510082_7_Birmingham-Crown-Court.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}