Sentences Increased for Parents Who Fatally Battered Infant Son

A couple who were convicted of killing their infant son have had their prison sentences increased by the Court of Appeal.

Klevi Pirjani, 38, and Nivalda Pirjani, 35, were originally sentenced in April to minimum terms of 19 years and 15 years, respectively, for the death of their 13-week-old son, Miguel. The Court of Appeal has now increased Klevi Pirjani's sentence to 21 years and six months and Nivalda Pirjani's to 17 years and nine months.

Miguel was admitted to Alder Hey children's hospital in November 2024, suffering severe head injuries. He died five days later. Investigations revealed the infant had sustained 41 separate bone fractures across at least four distinct incidents, indicating a pattern of abuse prior to the fatal event.

The Attorney General referred the original sentences to the Court of Appeal, arguing that they did not adequately reflect the gravity of the case. Barristers for the government contended that the initial sentences were unduly lenient.

Lord Justice Jeremy Baker, presiding over the appeal with Mr Justice Goose and Mr Justice Hilliard, stated that the parents subjected their son to "routine" assaults that escalated in severity, culminating in his death. The judge noted that the original sentences significantly underestimated the aggravating factors.

Court documents indicated that Miguel's death on November 24, 2024, was caused by an assault involving "a heavy blow, or series of blows, to the right side of his head." Paramedics were called to the family home after Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest but he never regained consciousness.

During the investigation, a broader history of physical abuse emerged, including fractures to the ribs, legs, and sternum, sustained in incidents preceding the fatal assault. While it could not be definitively determined which parent inflicted the fatal injuries, the court noted that each parent acted with the encouragement of the other.

Mr Justice Andrew Baker, who originally sentenced the couple, had described them as being "in this together, encouraging each other" to attack their son. He noted that the identity of the parent responsible for the fatal battering remained a closely guarded secret within their relationship.

Representatives for Nivalda Pirjani acknowledged that her original sentence was lenient but argued it fell within the bounds of reasonableness. Similarly, counsel for Klevi Pirjani submitted that while the sentence was lenient, it was not unduly so.

Klevi and Nivalda Pirjani, who appeared via video link from prison, showed no visible reaction when their increased sentences were announced.