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A couple from Wirral, Merseyside, Klevi Pirjani, 38, and Nivalda Pirjani, 35, have had their sentences increased following the fatal abuse of their three-month-old son, Miguel. Initially sentenced in April to minimum terms of 19 and 15 years respectively for murder, the Court of Appeal has now extended these to 21 years and six months for Klevi and 17 years and nine months for Nivalda.
Miguel was admitted to Alder Hey children’s hospital in November 2024, suffering from severe head trauma. Despite medical care, he died five days after admission. Investigations revealed that Miguel had endured 41 distinct bone fractures resulting from at least four separate episodes of physical abuse. The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves, took the unusual step of referring the original sentences to the Court of Appeal, citing concerns that they did not align with the gravity of the case.
During the appeal hearing, Lord Justice Jeremy Baker, alongside Mr Justice Goose and Mr Justice Hilliard, emphasized that the parents had subjected Miguel to repetitive assaults of escalating violence, culminating in his “particularly callous” murder. The judge commented, “We take the view that the resulting sentences significantly underestimated the aggravating factors,” leading the court to conclude that the original minimum terms were too lenient and needed revision. Government barrister Bill Emlyn Jones KC explained that on 24 November 2024, Miguel sustained a fatal blow or series of blows to the right side of his head. Despite paramedics arriving shortly after a 999 call from the Pirjanis’ home, Miguel never regained consciousness.
Further evidence presented revealed a broader pattern of chronic physical abuse endured by Miguel, including multiple fractures to his ribs, legs, and sternum before the fatal injury. While it remains unclear which parent inflicted the deadly blows, it was stated that “whichever it was, they did so with the encouragement of their partner.” Mr Justice Andrew Baker, in his initial sentencing remarks, described the couple as united in their abuse, stating they were “in this together, encouraging each other” to mistreat their vulnerable son. He also remarked on their “warped relationship,” adding that the truth of who caused the fatal injury “remains the guilty secret.”
Representatives for both defendants argued against further sentence increases. Rupert Bowers KC, representing Nivalda, conceded the original sentence was lenient but maintained it “was not beyond the ambit of reasonableness” and that the trial judge had properly balanced all factors. Sarah Vine KC, defending Klevi, acknowledged his sentence was “undoubtedly lenient, but not unduly,” warning against equating leniency with injustice. Throughout the appeal hearing, both Klevi and Nivalda Pirjani appeared emotionless as their sentences were extended, observing proceedings from their respective prisons in Wakefield and Styal
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