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Hemel Hempstead woman who murdered daughter jailed | Hemel Hempstead woman who murdered daughter jailed |
(31 minutes later) | |
Shilyrand Charigwati's two-year-old daughter Roselyn was suffocated | Shilyrand Charigwati's two-year-old daughter Roselyn was suffocated |
A nurse who suffocated her two-year-old daughter must spend at least 16 years in prison for murder, a judge has ruled. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |
Charigwati was given a life sentence with a minimum jail term of 16 years | Charigwati was given a life sentence with a minimum jail term of 16 years |
A jury found Charigwati guilty of murder earlier this month after being told that Roselyn had been suffocated with a plastic bag. | 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. | 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. | The judge said Charigwati was "angry" and "spousal revenge" was a factor in the little girl's murder. |
'Ghastly contradiction' | 'Ghastly contradiction' |
Prosecutors said evidence showed that Charigwati had a "mild to moderate" depressive illness. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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." | |
Shilyrand Charigwati was convicted of murdering her daughter in Hemel Hempstead | Shilyrand Charigwati was convicted of murdering her daughter in Hemel Hempstead |
Mrs Justice Williams heard that Charigwati had come to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2010. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "Rose was extremely vulnerable due to her age," said the judge. |
"This was a shocking abuse of trust." | "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." | She added: "In this troubling and unusual case I am sure that spousal revenge was a central part of your motivation." |
The mother was sentenced after a trial at Luton Crown Court | The mother was sentenced after a trial at Luton Crown Court |
Roselyn's father, Washington, read a victim impact statement at the hearing on Wednesday. | Roselyn's father, Washington, read a victim impact statement at the hearing on Wednesday. |
He said "no words" could express his pain. | He said "no words" could express his pain. |
"Rose was not just my daughter but my little best friend," he told the judge. | "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." | "[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". | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "But so is the joy of having known her, held her, and loved her unconditionally. She is with me always." |
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |
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