A mother and father whose baby suffered 41 fractures before they killed him have had their sentences increased after the Attorney General intervened.
\n\nNivalda Santos Pirjani, 35, and Klevi Pirjani, 37, of Seacombe, Wallasey had their minimum terms increased by two and a half years each to 17 years and 9 months and 21 years and 6 months respectively after the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
\n\nThe court heard that their son, Miguel Pirjani, had spent the first month of his life in hospital before being discharged into his parents’ care.
\n\nWithin days of returning home, Miguel Pirjani was assaulted for the first time, suffering two fractured ribs. The abuse continued and escalated over the following weeks.
\n\nOn 24 November 2024, when Miguel Pirjani was 13 weeks old, his parents subjected him to a fatal assault involving a heavy blow or series of blows to his head. Paramedics restarted his heart, but he never regained consciousness and died in Alder Hey children’s hospital five days later.
\n\nMedical examinations found that Miguel Pirjani had suffered 41 fractures in total, including injuries to his ribs, legs, arm, collarbone and spine, inflicted during repeated assaults over several weeks.
\n\nThe judge said it was not possible to determine which parent had inflicted the fatal injuries, but found that they had acted together and that whichever parent carried out the violence was encouraged by the other.
\n\nThe Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP said:
\n\n\n\n\nMiguel Pirjani was a defenceless baby who had an entire life to live, yet he suffered appallingly cruel violence at the hands of the two people who should have protected him.
\n\nThis was a truly harrowing case, and my thoughts are with everyone who loved and cared for him.
\n\nI welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase both minimum terms following my referral and remain committed to ensuring those who carry out the most serious crimes face the full force of the law.
\n
On 23 March 2026, at Liverpool Crown Court, Nivalda Santos Pirjani was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years and three months for murder. She was also sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment, to run concurrently, for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
\n\nKlevi Pirjani was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years for murder. He was also sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment, to run concurrently, for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
\n\nOn Tuesday, 27 October, at the Court of Appeal, Nivalda Santos Pirjani’s minimum term was increased to 17 years and 9 months, and Klevi Pirjani’s minimum term was increased to 21 years and 6 months.
\nThe Attorney General is chief legal adviser to the Crown and has a number of independent public interest functions, as well as overseeing the Law Officers’ departments.
\n\nResponsibilities include:
\n\nThe Attorney General also holds the separate office of Advocate General for Northern Ireland. The Advocate General for Scotland has specific responsibility for Scottish law matters.
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