Sanam Navsarka: Humanity let her down

Feb 12 2009 By David Himelfield

The metal pole used to batter Sanam

SHE was a happy toddler who loved her mother.

But little Sanam Navsarka was battered to death by her evil stepfather in just four weeks while her selfish mum stood by.

Now Subhan Anwar, 21, will serve at least 23 years behind bars after a jury yesterday found him guilty of murdering the infant.

Zahbeena Navsarka, 21, was sentenced to nine years in jail after she was cleared of her daughter's murder but found guilty of Sanam's manslaughter.

Sanam died, aged two years four months, on May 8, after she was found apparently lifeless at her home on Riddings Road, Deighton.

Some 107 injuries, including broken arms and legs, were discovered on the infant's body. She died from fatty embolism – a complication resulting from untreated fractures to her thighs.

Sentencing Judge Peter Thornton QC described Sanam's death as "one of the worst imaginable cases".

To Anwar, he said: "This is a truly terrible case and, at the time of Sanam’s death on May 8 2008, she had 107 separate injuries on the outside of her body from top to toe.

"Worse than that, she had all four limbs broken, fractures to both forearms and both thigh bones, all of these injuries inflicted in the last four weeks of her life.

"In short, she was bruised and battered repeatedly."

The judge said, at one point, a metal pole was used to shatter her leg causing unbelievable pain.

He said: "It is almost unbelievable the pain and anguish she must have suffered, not just once or twice, but repeatedly and persistently over weeks at your cruel and selfish hands.

"Bravely she tried to carry on with her injuries and all the while you ignored her desperate needs."