A woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment after the brutal killing of her two-month-old daughter in West Bromwich, a case that has deeply shocked the community.
Zara Arsalan, 31, was found guilty last month of murdering her baby girl, Harleen, in 2020. On July 23 of that year, emergency services were called to her West Bromwich home after Harleen was reported unresponsive following a supposed “fall” from her mother’s lap.
Paramedics discovered the infant struggling to breathe and suffering from severe head injuries. Despite being rushed to hospital, little Harleen tragically died the following day.
A post-mortem examination revealed multiple skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, broken ribs, and a fractured collarbone. Medical experts confirmed that these injuries were inconsistent with a simple fall, indicating violent shaking and being slammed against a hard surface.
Following the investigation, Arsalan was arrested, charged, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years. The verdict has brought some measure of justice to a case that stunned the West Midlands community.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole of the Homicide Unit commented on the case: “This is an incredibly tragic case. Harleen was only two months old when she died at the hands of the person who should have been doing everything to keep her safe.
“Arsalan has never taken responsibility. She repeatedly lied despite overwhelming evidence against her.
“I want to thank all officers involved who were deeply affected by this investigation. They worked tirelessly to get justice for Harleen and her family.
“I hope today’s sentence finally brings Harleen’s family some peace.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
