Sofina Nikat, who killed daughter, sentenced to community corrections order
A MELBOURNE mum who claimed a ‘barefoot African man smelling of alcohol’ had abducted her young daughter - but instead had suffocated her and dumped her body in a Heidelberg creek - won’t spend another day behind bars. Here’s why.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A YOUNG mum who killed her daughter who she believed was possessed won’t spend another day behind bars.
Instead Sofina Nikat, 24, will serve a 12-month community corrections order over the killing of 14-month-old Sanaya Sahib in April last year.
SOFINA NIKAT PLEADS GUILTY TO INFANTICIDE OVER DEATH OF TODDLER
Nikat was charged with murder but subsequently pleaded guilty to a single count of infanticide, just one of a handful of Victorian women to plead guilty to the charge.
It applies when a woman kills her child while mentally disturbed as a result of the birth.
While the offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ jail, just one woman has been jailed for infanticide in Victorian history but she also pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
Sentencing Nikat today Supreme Court judge Justice Lex Lasry said he would have imposed a nine-month jail term over the killing.
But he said because Nikat had already served 529 days in custody following the killing, it would be a purely artificial exercise.
Instead he placed her on a 12 month community corrections order.
“I regard your prospects of rehabilitation as reasonably good,” Justice Lasry said.
“A community corrections order would significantly assist your improvement,” he said.
When little Sanaya went missing Nikat told police she had been out walking with her daughter when the toddler was abducted by a barefoot African man smelling of alcohol.
In reality she had suffocated the little girl then dumped her body in a Heidelberg creek during a walk to the park.
She told police she killed her baby because she thought the child was possessed.
Nikat had spoken of killing herself and the child in the weeks leading up to the killing.
“In the two weeks prior to the child’s death she was crying regularly and you were struggling to cope with your circumstances,” Justice Lasry said.
“You spoke numerous times about killing yourself and killing the child. You seemed to blame her for making your life so miserable.
“At this time the child was seen to have scratches and bruises. You were very agitated at this stage. In the week prior to Sanaya’s death she suffered from a seizure which required hospital treatment.”
WOMAN OR CHILD KILLED EVERY 12 DAYS IN 2016
Justice Lasry said her lies after the killing were not a sign of a lack of remorse, but shame.
“In my opinion you were simply avoiding the acceptance of the reality rather than trying to shift the blame for what occurred.
“Your plea of guilty does represent a willingness on your part to take responsibility for what you have done, though your continued reluctance to go to the detail of your offence is, I accept, reflective of your shame and distress at what you have done,” he said.
VICTORIAN CASES OF INFANTICIDE
1. April, 2016
Sofina Nikat smothered her 14-month-old daughter then placed her body in a creek. She was placed on a 12-month community corrections order
2. April, 2015
Akon Guode is the only Victorian woman to be jailed for the crime of infanticide. She is serving a 26.5 year sentenced for killing three of her children and attempting to murder another, when she drove them into a lake in Melbourne’s outer southwest.
3. February, 2015
A teen mum, who can’t be named, was placed on a 12-month community corrections order after she killed her newborn daughter and dumped her body. The 19-year-old did not realise she was pregnant when she gave birth in her bedroom.
4. April, 2012
A mother of twins, who can’t be named, was placed on a 12-month community corrections order after she killed one of the baby girls and left another severely disabled. She told police post-natal depression may have caused her to “flip”.
5. April, 2005
A teen mum who killed her baby minutes after giving birth avoided jail, and was placed on a three-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to infanticide.
6. July, 2003
Leanne Michelle Azzopardi drowned her five-week old baby while suffering from post natal depression. She was sentenced to an 18-month community-based order.
7. July 1997
Michelle Foley was ordered to complete 200 hours of community work for killing her baby with a single blow.