Sarah Ngaba, 32, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to a mandatory life term with a minimum of 12 years and 154 days for the murder of her infant daughter, Eliza, in November 2019. The court heard Ngaba violently shook and struck the baby , then took a bath and bought a lottery ticket before finally calling a taxi to the hosptal.

The November 13, 2019 assault and delayed hospital call

According to the prosecution, Eliza Ngava was found floppy, unresponsive and seizing when she arrived at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford at 9:05 a.m., more than half an hour after Ngaba booked a taxi at 8:13 a.m.. The taxi driver reported Ngaba appeared "very calm and not worried," and she told medical staff the child was merely unwell, omitting any mention of trauma.

Prosecutor Lisa Hancox testified that medical evidence showed two distinct injury mechanisms – violent shaking and a significant impact, likely against a wall – resulting in a fractured skull and catastrophic brain damage.

Previous conviction and six years already served

Ngaba had already been convicted in 2020 of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, receiving a 14‑year sentence that began in May 2021. She has now served more than six years of that term, which the court will credit toward the new minimum term.

The earlier conviction stemmed from the same 2019 incident, but the child survived until 2022, when she died of a viral respiratory infection. That death prompted a fresh murder investigation and the subsequent conviction.

Judge Brunner’s condemnation of the post‑attack behaviour

Mrs Justice Brunner KC described the assault as "the culmination of escalating hostility toward the infant" and highlighted Ngaba’s callous decision to bathe herself and purchase a lottery ticket before seeking help. She noted that the pattern of injuries showed the attack was not a momentary loss of control but a sustained,aggressive episode.

The judge emphasized that a reasonable person would have recognised the seriousness of the injuries and acted immediately, stating, "You lost control in a fit of rage… you acted callously, delaying and concealing her condition while prioritising your own interests."

Unanswered questions about the motive and mental state

While the court heard Ngaba was "prone to anger," the exact trigger for the violent outburst remains unclear. Prosecutor Jonas Hankin KC outlined the timeline but did not present evidence of a psychiatric diagnosis, leaving the question of whether mental health factors contributed to the "fit of rage" unanswered.

Additionally, the CCTV footage showing Ngaba buying a lottery ticket has sparked public debate about how such seemingly trivial actions can signal deeper denial or detachment, but experts have not yet weighed in on its significance.

According to the report, the mandatory life sentence reflects the gravity of taking a life through prolonged abuse, and the minimum term ensures Ngaba will remain incarcerated for at least twelve years beyond the time already served.