Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Husband & wife deny murdering daughter, five
Mum and stepdad refused bail as court told child had ‘historic’ injuries
A HUSBAND and wife accused of murdering her daughter claim she fell down the stairs while they were sleeping, a court has heard.
Five-year-old Nadia Zofia Kalinowska died at her family home in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, in the early hours of last Sunday.
Her mother Aleksandra Wahab, 25, and stepfather, 31-year-old Abdul Wahab, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday accused of murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and causing or allowing the death of a child.
A district judge refused bail applications from both, citing concerns they might seek to flee the jurisdiction, and remanded them in custody.
The court heard the accused deny the charges and claim Nadia sustained the fatal injuries when she fell down a flight of stairs in their Fernagh Drive home in the middle of the night.
However, the court was also told police had concerns about multiple and potentially historical injuries found on the P1 pupil’s body.
A PSNI detective chief inspector, who said he could connect both accused with the charges, added pathology findings had turned the inquiry into a murder investigation.
The court heard the couple’s two-yearold son had been placed in emergency protective care and was being assessed as a potential witness.
The officer raised concerns the boy could be at risk if the couple were released and gained access to him.
He said if they were bailed, police had concerns about the suitability of them residing at their home address, given tensions in the area and several recent hate crime incidents.
Two custody officers sat between the pair, who wept at points during the hearing. Damien Trainor, representing
Mrs Wahab, told the court his client denied any wrongdoing.
Outlining her account of events, he said: “She was sleeping with her young daughter and she got up in the middle of the night to use the toilet and has fallen down the stairs.”
Mr Trainor added the family had arrived home late that night after attending a wedding in England and everyone had been very tired.
He said Mrs Wahab was woken by the sound of the fall and added: “She has gone to the top of the stairs and found her child crying at the bottom of the stairs.”
The solicitor said his client woke her husband and emergency services were called.
Mr Trainor highlighted reports from staff at Nadia’s school who described her as a “happy child” who was always running and was “very clumsy”.
He added there had been six separate injury reports relating to incidents at the school since she started P1 in September.
He insisted the couple would not flee the jurisdiction, saying: “They want to stay here and clear their names. They want to fight for the return of their son.”
Michael Loughrey, representing Mr Wahab, said: “It’s hard to convey the sense of despair Mr Wahab has been feeling over his daughter’s death.”
He added that had been compounded by “disbelief ” that he had been charged with murder.
Mr Loughrey said: “He has woken from his sleep and goes to the top of the stairs to see Nadia at the bottom of stairs.”
He added Mr Wahab spoke to Nadia and took her to the bathroom where she lost consciousness, prompting him to start CPR.
District Judge Amanda Henderson remanded the couple in custody to appear before court again by video-link on January 17.
She got up in middle of night to use toilet and has fallen down stairs DAMIEN TRAINOR BELFAST MAGISTRATES COURT