A woman has been accused of killing her infant daughter following an incident where the newborn fell from a residential building. The tragic event took place on Horseferry Road in central London, resulting in the 18-day-old baby being pronounced dead at a hospital on Saturday.
Zahira Byjaouane, a 43-year-old resident of Horseferry Road, has been arrested and charged with murder. She is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Following the incident, the police cordoned off a significant part of Great Peter Street, adjacent to Horseferry Road. Forensic experts were observed working from a third-floor flat within the Peabody Estate. Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, responded to the scene, where the baby received treatment before being transferred to a major trauma center.
This morning, tributes in the form of flowers and a toy animal were left near the Peabody Estate building, where the police cordon had been removed.
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, leading the Metropolitan Police’s investigation, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased infant. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being urgently investigated, with a focus on a potential domestic context. Authorities are appealing to the public for any relevant information to aid in the ongoing inquiry.