Life in prison for '˜shocking and sickening' murder of baby Noah

A mum and her boyfriend convicted over their parts in the death of Luton baby Noah have each been jailed.

Hardeep Hunjan, 27, was unanimously found guilty by a jury yesterday of the murder of Noah on November 21, 2015 at Crawley Road in Luton.

Today at Luton Crown Court, The Hon Mr Justice Jeremy Baker jailed Hunjan to life in prison to serve a minimum of 23 years.

Hunjan’s girlfriend and Noah’s mother - 22-year-old Ronnie Tayler-Morrison – was jailed for six-and-a-half years for allowing the death of a child.

The judge told Tayler-Morrison: “As Noah’s mother you had a clear responsibility towards him.

“You deliberately chose to place your own gratification over the interests of Noah.”

Hunjan was also jailed 12 years for another violent attack in July of last year, when he “cowardly” into broke the home of a vulnerable woman in London and carried out a savage attack on her following an argument with Tayler-Morrison.

During the gruelling trial the court had heard how tiny Noah had died of a massive head injury believed to have been caused by being slammed against a hard surface such as a wall or floor, and had also suffered multiple limb fractures consistent with being twisted or swung. Some of his injuries were weeks old.

A post-mortem examination carried out on the child showed his numerous traumatic injuries were wholly inconsistent with a fall from a cot, which Tayler-Morrison and Hunjan had repeatedly claimed was the cause of Noah’s death. The court also heard how the pair had allowed for a lengthy delay in alerting emergency services to help save him, making internet searches for the terms ‘by baby is hurt’ in the meantime.

Det Insp Fraser Wylie from the Beds, Cambs and Herts major crime unit led the case with a dedicated team of investigators, who spent months piecing together evidence to prove Tayler-Morrison and Hunjan each played a part in Noah’s death.

During the trial the jury was provided with evidence in the form of home videos depicting the pair’s frequent drug and alcohol abuse, as well as diary entries, text messages between the pair and friends, CCTV and covert recording tapes.

Following today’s sentencing DI Wylie said: “The sentences passed against this deceitful pair will ensure they are no longer free to live the hedonistic, selfish lifestyle they clearly enjoyed at the expense of Tayler-Morrison’s own son.

“Their toxic partnership meant little Noah was never treated with the dignity and love that – as a beautiful, completely dependent baby – he craved and deserved. Tragically tiny Noah had his life brutally and mercilessly cut short by Hunjan, as his mother turned a blind eye to the abuse that was repeatedly inflicted upon him.

“I have said that this case is one of the most shocking and sickening cases of violence we have ever come across in the major crime unit, and while the jail terms will hopefully provide some comfort to Noah’s wider family, nothing will ever bring him back. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to try and rebuild their lives without him.

“I hope Hunjan and Tayler-Morrison forever live with the sickening knowledge that they caused a defenceless baby boy to die.”

An NSPCC spokesman added: “The sentence sends out a strong message to those who think it is okay to harm a defenceless child.

“The catalogue of injuries faced by baby Noah was sickening. The case has bought to light the evils of child abuse and neglect which we must eradicate.

“Hopefully this sentence for Morrison and Hunjan gives some sort of justice for Noah – even though it can never bring back the life he could have had.

“We hope the Serious Case Review thoroughly investigates the circumstances surrounding Noah’s death and if more could have been done to save him.

“Anyone worried about a child can call our HelpLine on 0808 800 5000.”

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