A mother has been charged with murder after her 18-day-old baby daughter died following a fall from a residential building in central London. Zahira Byjaouane, 43, of Horseferry Road in Westminster, was charged on Sunday and remanded in custody.
Key Takeaways
A mother has been charged with murder after her 18-day-old baby daughter died following a fall from a residential building in central London. The incident occurred on Horseferry Road, Westminster, and the mother is due to appear in court.
- Zahira Byjaouane, 43, charged with murder of 18-day-old infant
- Incident occurred within a domestic context at Peabody Estate on Horseferry Road
- Baby pronounced dead after being taken to hospital following fall from height
- Police cordon set up and later lifted; tributes left near the scene
Police were called to the scene at around 7:30 AM on Saturday after reports that an infant had fallen from height at a residential property. The baby girl was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead. According to Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, officers believe the incident occurred within a domestic context.
A police cordon was set up around Great Peter Street following the incident and forensic officers were seen working at a window on the third floor of the Peabody Estate. The cordon was lifted by Sunday morning, allowing tributes to be placed near the scene, including flowers and a toy animal. Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command are leading the murder investigation.
Byjaouane is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday. Police have urged anyone with information to come forward as they continue their urgent enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the baby's death.
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