Home / Crime and Justice / Mom bought lottery ticket after daughter's skull fracture
Mom bought lottery ticket after daughter's skull fracture
11 May
Summary
- Mother accepted causing fatal head injuries to her daughter.
- She took a bath and bought a lottery ticket before hospital.
- Infanticide defense is the key issue in the murder trial.
Sarah Ngaba, 32, is on trial for the murder of her seven-week-old daughter, Eliza. Ngaba has admitted to inflicting "life-shortening and life-limiting" head injuries in November 2019, which prosecutors state led to Eliza's death in 2022 from a respiratory infection due to her weakened state.
The prosecution contends that the critical question for the court is whether the defense of infanticide, a charge Ngaba has pleaded guilty to, is applicable. They argue that Ngaba's actions on the day Eliza was injured, including taking a bath and purchasing a lottery ticket before seeking medical help, do not align with a disturbed state of mind.
Evidence presented suggests Eliza was visibly shaking during a video call on November 13, 2019, prompting a witness to urge Ngaba to seek immediate hospital care. Instead, Ngaba reportedly delayed, choosing to bathe, take a taxi, and visit a supermarket before arriving at the hospital. Staff described her as detached, showing concern for housing over her baby's critical condition.
