Man who murdered girlfriend's toddler weeks after meeting jailed for life

An unlicensed dog breeder who murdered his girlfriend's toddler just weeks after meeting her has been jailed for life.

Kamran Haider, 39, was found guilty of killing 16-month-old Nusayba Umar by shaking her, causing catastrophic brain injuries, on 13 September 2019.

Haider – who refused to attend court for the sentencing – was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

Following the attack the girl’s mother, Asiyah Amazir, called 999 and wrongly claimed her daughter had fallen ill on a bus, the Old Bailey heard.

Nusayba, who weighed only 17lb, suffered a fit and was rushed to King's College Hospital, where medics battled to save her.

Despite their efforts, Nusbaya's injuries were so severe her life support was withdrawn four days after the attack.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Cheema-Grubb told the court: “It was not an accident, it was a gross breach of trust by an adult against a defenceless baby.”

She added: "It is clear to me that Kamran Haider wanted Ms Amazir’s assistance with his dog breeding business and her child got in the way. He resented the attention Nusbaya needed from her mother. I have no doubt that he had punished Nusayba harshly and had assaulted her on more than one occasion.”

Haider had a history of violence, and attacked an ex-girlfriend's toddler in a locked bathroom 15 years prior to the brutal killing.

Haider lived in a four-bedroom house with his mum in Ilford, north-east London.

Mrs Amazir met him through a dating website a month before her daughter's death and effectively moved in to help with his dog breeding business, jurors heard.

At first, Mrs Amazir had no real concerns about Haider’s behaviour – which could be “snappy” and “verbally aggressive”, the court heard.

Just two weeks before her attack, Nusayba allegedly suffered a separate head injury while Haider cared for her.

Haider claimed she had fallen over in the kitchen while he was in the garden feeding his dogs, but as the days went past he became increasing abusive.

Jurors heard he would force Nusbaya into various "stress positions" as punishment, and would hit her on the hand during a "time out".

If Mrs Amazir tried to intervene, he would slap her, and prosecutors said he would tell her she was being too soft on her daughter who would grow up to be a "p**ssy".

On the day of the fatal Mrs Amazir got up to tend to the dogs when she heard Nusayba crying, jurors heard.

As she went towards her room, she allegedly heard the defendant say “shut up, Nusayba” and a slapping sound. She heard Nusayba “yelp” in response, jurors were told.

Afterwards, the girl did not seem herself, though there was no outward sign of injury, the court heard.

At around 5pm, Nusayba began having a fit and Haider suggested to Mrs Amazir that she take the youngster to her home to “relax”, jurors heard.

Mrs Amazir left and called an ambulance from the bus stop at the end of the road.

She told the operator her daughter started having a fit on a bus, only later disclosing she was scared of Haider, the court was told.

When paramedics arrived, it was clear Nusayba was “gravely ill” and she taken to hospital.

Haider had denied having any physical contact with the little girl, but on Monday a jury found Haider guilty of murder and child cruelty in his absence.

Afterwards, Mrs Amazir said in a statement: “Nusayba was subjected to the most horrible experiences at the hands of this man towards the end of her life.

“I will never forget the events that led to her death for as long as I live. I vividly remember the things she suffered, and that noise she made on the last day of her life will haunt me forever.”

Nusayba’s death was caused by “violent shaking” and impact, prosecutor Edward Brown QC said previously.

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