Mitcham couple found guilty of failing to prevent death of their 28-day-old daughter

A 28-day-old baby who died was found to have suffered repeated, deliberate injuries to her head, ribs and an eye. before she died in Mitcham.

Her mother and father have been convicted over the tragic death of Eva on September 1, 2017 at the family home.

Clare Sanders, 43, and Tomas Vaitkevicius, 45, both of Streatham Road, Mitcham, were found guilty on Friday at the Old Bailey of causing or allowing Eva ’s death.

Police were called by paramedics at 2.37am to their home to reports of a one-month-old girl who was unresponsive.

Eva was taken to hospital where she was placed on life support. She was pronounced dead just before 7pm on 2 September 2017.

The death was initially treated as unexplained, with the Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) leading the investigation. Eva was found to have suffered non-accidental injuries to her head, ribs and an eye. Medical evidence showed that head and rib injuries were inflicted on more than one occasion during Eva’s short life.

An investigation was launched by Homicide detectives led by Detective Inspector Will White, and following enquiries, Clare Sanders and Tomas Vaitkevicius were arrested on suspicion of murder on September 29, 2017.

They were later charged by postal requisition on April 3, 2018 with murder, and with causing or allowing the death of their child, four-week-old Eva Sanders.

Detective Inspector Will White, of Specialist Crime South, said: “This is a tragic case where baby Eva died from extensive injuries at just 28 days old. Medical evidence in the case was emphatic in determining that the injuries sustained were non accidental.

“Neither parent offered any explanation to account for Eva’s injuries, and today they have been found guilty of causing or allowing Eva’s death. This is a tragic loss of an innocent life at the hands of those who were meant to love and care for her.’’