14/4/2008Father found guilty of killing baby daughter is jailed for six years
A FATHER who was found guilty of shaking his baby daughter to death was sent to jail for six years yesterday, still protesting his innocence.
Faisal Younas, 35, trembled in the dock of the High Court in Glasgow and began crying as the judge, Lord Hardie, sentenced him.
His wife, Bano, 35, was not in court to hear the sentence, but when the news was broken to her she sobbed: "" will never believe my husband did this to our baby. He was a caring, loving, gentle father."
Mrs Younas believes that the injuries may have been inflicted by a "jealous" child who was alone in the living room with seven-month-old Alishba and had previously been seen acting inappropriately towards her.
Sentencing Younas, of Pollokshields, Glasgow, Lord Hardie told him: "The jury's verdict convicting you of the culpable homicide of Alishba means that they were satisfied you assaulted her and that she died as a result of that assault. The manner of the assault was never established precisely in evidence and you alone know what you did.
"Although there was a difference of opinion by expert witnesses as to whether shaking Alishba caused her internal head injuries, and if so, the extent of that shaking, there did not seem to be any dispute that the injuries were caused by trauma.
"Accidental trauma was excluded by your own testimony, leaving inflicted injury or assault as the only explanation for Alishba's brain injuries.
"The jury's verdict indicates that they favoured the body of expert evidence to the effect that shaking Alishba could explain her injuries, although they were unsure whether you shook her or otherwise inflicted trauma to her head and neck."
Lord Hardie added: "Children of all ages are entitled to trust that their parents will protect them and will ensure so far as is humanly possible they will develop and grow normally.
"That trust is absolute, particularly in the case of babies and infants who are totally dependent on their parents and others. When your wife was at work you had total responsibility for the care and wellbeing of your baby daughter. You betrayed that trust by assaulting her causing internal head injuries and brain damage.2
The judge said he would recommend Younas's deportation to the Home Secretary when he is released.
Younas was originally charged with murdering baby Alishba after she died from a brain injury on September 18, 2005, in Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
After a nine-week trial in January, Younas was convicted of the lesser crime of culpable homicide.
Mar 28
Faisal Younas, 35, trembled in the dock of the High Court in Glasgow and began crying as the judge, Lord Hardie, sentenced him.
His wife, Bano, 35, was not in court to hear the sentence, but when the news was broken to her she sobbed: "" will never believe my husband did this to our baby. He was a caring, loving, gentle father."
Mrs Younas believes that the injuries may have been inflicted by a "jealous" child who was alone in the living room with seven-month-old Alishba and had previously been seen acting inappropriately towards her.
Sentencing Younas, of Pollokshields, Glasgow, Lord Hardie told him: "The jury's verdict convicting you of the culpable homicide of Alishba means that they were satisfied you assaulted her and that she died as a result of that assault. The manner of the assault was never established precisely in evidence and you alone know what you did.
"Although there was a difference of opinion by expert witnesses as to whether shaking Alishba caused her internal head injuries, and if so, the extent of that shaking, there did not seem to be any dispute that the injuries were caused by trauma.
"Accidental trauma was excluded by your own testimony, leaving inflicted injury or assault as the only explanation for Alishba's brain injuries.
"The jury's verdict indicates that they favoured the body of expert evidence to the effect that shaking Alishba could explain her injuries, although they were unsure whether you shook her or otherwise inflicted trauma to her head and neck."
Lord Hardie added: "Children of all ages are entitled to trust that their parents will protect them and will ensure so far as is humanly possible they will develop and grow normally.
"That trust is absolute, particularly in the case of babies and infants who are totally dependent on their parents and others. When your wife was at work you had total responsibility for the care and wellbeing of your baby daughter. You betrayed that trust by assaulting her causing internal head injuries and brain damage.2
The judge said he would recommend Younas's deportation to the Home Secretary when he is released.
Younas was originally charged with murdering baby Alishba after she died from a brain injury on September 18, 2005, in Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
After a nine-week trial in January, Younas was convicted of the lesser crime of culpable homicide.
Mar 28