Woman who suffocated daughter jailed for murder

A nurse who suffocated her two-year-old daughter must spend at least 16 years in prison for murder, a judge has ruled.

Shilyrand Charigwati, 30, of Juniper Square, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was jailed at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday after being found guilty of murder.

Charigwati had admitted killing daughter Roselyn at her home in April 2024 by pleading guilty to manslaughter.

But Charigwati denied murder, saying she had been suffering from a mental illness and had "no recollection" of the killing. Mrs Justice Heather Williams said the mother's actions had shown "a shocking abuse of trust".

A jury found Charigwati guilty of murder earlier this month after being told that Roselyn had been suffocated with a plastic bag.

Mrs Justice Williams heard that Charigwati had separated from Roselyn's father and had lost custody of her daughter.

The judge said Charigwati was "angry" and "spousal revenge" was a factor in the little girl's murder.

Prosecutors said evidence showed that Charigwati had a "mild to moderate" depressive illness.

But John Price KC, who led the prosecution team, argued that Charigwati's ability to make a "rational judgment" was not "impaired".

Zoe Johnson KC, for the defendant, said her client was a "devoted" mother who had an "undoubted" mental illness when she killed Roselyn.

Miss Johnson said Charigwati had been involved in family court proceedings and lost custody of Roselyn.

She said a few days before Roselyn died, a neighbour had referred to the mother as appearing to be "tired of life".

Miss Johnson told the judge on Wednesday: "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."

Mrs Justice Williams heard that Charigwati had come to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2010.

She said the defendant had shown symptoms of stress and depression following her break-up from Roselyn's father and lost custody of her child in late 2023.

The judge said until the "terrible incident", Charigwati had been a "loving and devoted" mother.

But she said she had showed an "unusual" amount of "anger" towards Roselyn's father.

Imposing a life sentence, with a minimum jail term of 16 years, Mrs Justice Williams said she was satisfied that Charigwati had intended to kill her daughter.

"Rose was extremely vulnerable due to her age," said the judge.

"This was a shocking abuse of trust."

She added: "In this troubling and unusual case I am sure that spousal revenge was a central part of your motivation."

Roselyn's father, Washington, read a victim impact statement at the hearing on Wednesday.

He said "no words" could express his pain.

"Rose was not just my daughter but my little best friend," he told the judge.

"[I] have been robbed of a future of beautiful moments."

After the hearing, a statement from Washington released by police said his little girl was "joyful, funny, playful, beautiful, and so full of love".

"She was the kind of daughter every parent would dream of having. She touched so many hearts wherever we went, and everyone adored her," he said.

"Every part of being her dad was amazing."

He added: "As her father, the pain of losing Roselyn is something I carry with me every single day.

"But so is the joy of having known her, held her, and loved her unconditionally. She is with me always."

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