Mother given life sentence for murder of baby girl in West Bromwich - judge describes 'act of extreme and ferocious violence'
A woman has been jailed for life for the killing of her two-month-old daughter in West Bromwich
Zara Arsalan was told at Coventry Crown Court this morning she would serve at least 18 years and 300 days after she was found guilty last month of the murder of her daughter Harleen Bains - also known as Bambi - in 2020.
Paramedics were called to Arsalan's home in Caddick Crescent, West Bromwich on July 23 2020 and found Harleen's breathing unstable, and that she had a serious head injury.
She had also suffered a broken collarbone and 'catastrophic' injuries to her leg, spine and ribs.
She was taken to Sandwell General Hospital then Birmingham Children's Hospital where she passed away from her injuries the next day.
Arsalan, now aged 31 but then 25, underwent a six week trial at Coventry Crown Court and was convicted of murder on February 20.
Judge John Cavanagh, in summing up before sentence said whilst the act she committed against her daughter was not pre-meditated and planned and there was evidence she loved Harleen, the injuries sustained to her could only have been caused by an 'act of extreme and ferocious violence.'
He said: "There is little mitigating evidence in terms of the act which killed baby Bambi -there was evidence throughout the trial and forensic evidence showed she hit her head on a hard surface, which was found to be the floor.
"It was a sudden fit of rage that caused the attack but the fact it was not planned does not mitigate the fact of what the defendant did.
"Only two days before, baby Bambi had suffered fractured ribs in another incident and if she was struggling in the way many new mothers do she was given ample support by nurses, health visitors and midwives and the chance to tell them this and get help.
Addressing Arsalan directly, he said: "In the moment of committing the act you did not care if you killed her although you did try to revive her during the 999 call but haven't expressed any remorse since."
Throughout the trial the jury heard evidence of a volatile relationship between Arsalan - who at the time called herself Sharandeep Talwandi - and Harleen's father Jatinder Bains including violent arguments, with police attending a number of times due to complaints about the noise from neighbours.
But Judge Cavanagh said she had 'given as good as she got' with the former cage fighter, who he said committed suicide in August 2022.
He said: "It was well documented that Jatinder Bains had mental health issues including depression and ADHD and the relationship was known to be stormy but there is no evidence that he was violent, with only one historic incident recorded.
"Even when she learned of his death, Arsalan still tried to pass the blame for Harleen's death onto him but the jury was clear during the trial that it was not he who was on trial but that it was an act by one person."
"Nothing I can do will provide recompense for the death of Harleen who was a tiny child who had a potentially long life ahead of her enjoying the joys that can bring but she was denied that by this act."