Newstalk ZB
The young mother of a baby violently killed at the hands of his father says she remains consumed by “overwhelming grief”. Tauvalea Law told Justice Layne Harvey in the High Court at Hamilton today that the immense toll from Mustafa Ali’s death would remain with her forever. Her words came as her former partner, Mukzameel Ali, was jailed for six years for the death of their 10-month-old son. Mustafa died on June 8, 2024, after Ali inflicted a blow to his son’s abdomen at their Te Kūiti home. It was so severe that it lacerated his liver and the wall of his large bowel in two locations. “The loss of my son is something I will carry for the rest of my life,” Law said, fighting back tears, as she was supported in the High Court at Hamilton by her mother. “Emotionally, this has left me with overwhelming grief and deep sadness ... and struggle with the reality that my child is no longer here.” Ali was someone, at the time, she trusted to leave her son with, and the pain of her loss was at times unbearable. She had since chosen to forgive Ali, but only “because my faith teaches me to do so and God calls me to forgive”. Law, a Christian, urged the judge to hand down a sentence that not only reflected the seriousness of what happened but also acted as a deterrent to others. Ali, who remained emotionless throughout the 90-minute hearing, was set to defend the charges, but on the eve of his trial in February this year, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, along with two charges relating to assaults on his partner between February 2023 and June 2024. ‘Terminate the baby’ Ali didn’t want a child. After learning of his new partner’s pregnancy in January 2023, he “immediately expressed concern” and encouraged her to terminate it. However, she wanted the baby, and, initially, misled Ali, believing that she had miscarried. Ali became aware that she was still pregnant some months later, after finding a photo of her pregnancy scan, which she had hidden from him. The pair argued, and Ali slapped her about the face “repeatedly” before pushing her down on the bed, placing his hands on her upper chest and around her neck. He then jumped on top of her with his knees on her abdomen. She didn’t require hospitalisation, and her unborn baby was not harmed. The couple married in mid-July 2023, after meeting in September 2022, shortly before their son’s birth. Their relationship remained “volatile” and, on several occasions, Ali pushed or punched her. ‘Stressed and angry’ On June 8, 2024, Law woke to their son crying at 6am. She settled him in bed between her and Ali and went back to sleep. She got up at 8am, leaving the child sleeping with Ali at 10.50am. She asked Ali to give their son a bath and feed him before family celebrations later that afternoon. Mustafa had been unwell during the days prior, with a high temperature. Mukzameel Ali, 24, in the dock of the High Court at Hamilton this morning. Photo / Belinda Feek Some time after his partner left, Ali fed Mustafa a bottle and some Weet-Bix. The baby vomited and was unsettled. Ali tried to feed him again later in the morning, unsuccessfully. Frustrated, Ali attempted to force-feed Mustafa his bottle, causing prominent bruises to his chin. Unable to feed or settle him, Ali became “stressed and angry”. It was during this time that Ali caused the fatal injury through a violent blow to his abdomen. At 2.16pm, his partner returned and was met at the front door of the house by Ali holding Mustafa in his arms. The toddler was “floppy and cold to the touch”. His partner grabbed the baby and ran outside for help before the couple drove directly to Te Kūiti Hospital. Mustafa was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. He died as a result of a crushing injury to his abdomen, lacerating his liver and the wall of his large bowel in two locations. There was also bruising to his diaphragm, small bowel mesentery, and the back of his abdominal wall. The injury to Mustafa’s liver was so severe tha...
Go to News Site