B B C NEWS Woman jailed for murder after suffocating her daughter.
A nurse who suffocated her two-year-old daughter must serve at least 16 years in prison for murder, a judge ruled.
Shilyrand Charigwati, 30, of Juniper Square, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to prison at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday.
Charigwati admitted to killing her daughter Roselyn at her home in April 2024, pleading guilty to manslaughter.
However, Charigwati denied murder, claiming she was suffering from a mental illness and had “no recollection” of the killing. Mrs Justice Heather Williams stated that the mother’s actions demonstrated “a shocking abuse of trust”.
Charigwati received a life sentence with a minimum jail term of 16 years.
A jury convicted Charigwati of murder earlier this month after learning that Roselyn had been suffocated with a plastic bag.
Mrs. Justice Williams learnt that Charigwati had separated from Roselyn’s father and had lost custody of her daughter.
The judge stated that Charigwati was “angry” and that “spousal revenge” played a role in the murder of the little girl.
‘Ghastly contradiction.’
Prosecutors said evidence showed Charigwati suffered from “mild to moderate” depression.
But John Price KC, who led the prosecution team, argued that Charigwati’s ability to make a “rational judgement” was not “impaired”.
Zoe Johnson KC, representing the defendant, stated that her client was a “devoted” mother with a “undoubted” mental illness when she killed Roselyn.
Miss Johnson stated that Charigwati was involved in family court proceedings and lost custody of Roselyn.
She claimed that a neighbour had described Roselyn as “tired of life” a few days before her death.
The judge was informed on Wednesday by Miss Johnson: “On the evidence there is an extraordinary and ghastly contradiction in this case, between the evidence which demonstrates that Miss Charigwati was a devoted and loving mother, on the one hand, and her violent act on 14 April on the other.”
Tony Fisher/BBC
Shilyrand Charigwati was found guilty of murdering her daughter in Hemel Hempstead.
Mrs Justice Williams heard that Charigwati moved to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2010.
She claimed that after her breakup with Roselyn’s father, the defendant experienced stress and depression and lost custody of her child in late 2023.
Charigwati, according to the judge, was a “loving and devoted” mother prior to the “terrible incident”.
However, she claimed to have displayed a “unusual” level of “anger” towards Roselyn’s father.
Mrs Justice Williams imposed a life sentence with a minimum jail term of 16 years, stating that she was satisfied Charigwati intended to kill her daughter.
“Rose was extremely vulnerable due to her age,” said the judge.
“This was a shocking abuse of trust.”
She went further: “In this troubling and unusual case I am sure that spousal revenge was a central part of your motivation.”
Brian Farmer/BBC
“[I] have been robbed of a future of beautiful moments.”
Police said Washington’s little girl was “joyful, funny, playful, beautiful, and so full of love” in a statement released after the hearing.
“She was the kind of daughter any parent would want. “She touched so many hearts wherever we went, and everyone adored her,” he explained.
“Every part of being her dad was amazing.”
He added, “As Roselyn’s father, the pain of losing her is something I carry with me every day.”
“But so is the joy of knowing her, holding her, and loving her completely. “She is always with me.”
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