Copyright © 2007 Justice For Baby Talha. All Rights Reserved.

Baby Talha Ikram was just 16 months old. His step-mother stubbed cigarettes out all over his body, broke his legs, his ribs and slashed him with knives so frequently that at the time of his death his tendons were visible through the wounds. The coroner said that he had died in "unimaginable agony". He was just 16 months old. His step-mother and father got only 9 years in prison.

Is this British Justice?

Baby Talha was taken away from his mother (as she suffered with depression) and given to the father and step-mother. He died alone and in terrible pain when the bone marrow from his untreated broken leg travelled to his heart and caused a fatal clot. He was only a baby.

As the law stands this means that they were not able to be convicted of murder so they both got a very light sentence - even though little Talha's father sent her home to Pakistan "until things had died down".

She was arrested on her return and is now serving a 9 Year jail sentence. I could not believe that she could get only 9 years for causing this baby 'unimaginable agony' (as the coroner put it) and I complained to my MP, Andrew Slaughter. This was his response:

"I share your horror at this dreadful killing, and I my initial reaction is one of revulsion and disbelief that such cruelty could be visited on an innocent child.

As regards the punishment for the perpetrators, a trial judge can only pass a sentence in accordance with the tariff for the offence that the defendants have been convicted.

This was a very difficult case: while it was clear that the convicted couple were �responsible� for the death of this child, it was difficult establishing the facts sufficiently clearly to bring charges of manslaughter or murder:

the prosecution service clearly felt that bringing such charges would increase the chances of the defence securing an acquittal on technical or evidential grounds. Indeed only a couple of years ago, such a prosecution would have failed, because it would have needed to establish which of the two actually �did the deed� � that was impossible, even though common sense suggested that they both played a role.

The couple were actually convicted of �causing or allowing� the death of the child and of perverting the course of justice. That is a lesser charge than murder or manslaughter, though the sentence they received was in line with many manslaughter sentences.

My understanding is that the judge sentenced the couple to the maximum term he could for this particular crime. It may be that the public reaction to this case is strong enough to cause the Ministry of Justice to reflect on how best to deal with cases like this.

I will write to the Ministry of Justice relaying the concerns of the several constituents who have written to me about this issue, but I think also you may like to write to Jack Straw directly:

Rt Hon Jack Straw MP,
Secretary of State for Justice
Ministry of Justice
Selborne House
54 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QW

Whilst justice can clearly not be a matter of simply reacting to popular opinion on a case-by-case basis, I do genuinely believe that, over time, an aggregation of opinions from members of the public does help those charged with making the law ensure that their decisions are in line with what the majority of reasonable people feel.

Yours sincerely, Andy Slaughter"

Thank You again for the kind response Mr.Slaughter but I would like MORE people to know about this case and will not rest until this couple have been jailed for life for what they did to that baby.

Article Link: Seven missed chances to save boy tortured to death by sadistic stepmother

If, Like me you think that 9 Years is not long enough for this crime then please write to Jack Straw (as the above MP suggested) and ask for them to receive a longer sentence.
It is too late for 16 month old Talha Ikram. He is dead now, he was taken from a loving mother and given to two brutes who ultimately tortured and then killed him but if you complain to Jack Straw and demand tougher sentencing for this type of crime then together we can make a difference to the other little Talha Ikrams in the future. The law must change.

All it will cost you is the cost of a postage stamp and a few minutes of your time.
Please pass this on to other people.

email justiceforbabytalha @ yahoo.co.uk
Thank You.