Mother Charged With Murdering Toddler Daughter in Melbourne

The mother of a 15-month-old girl whose body was found in the Darebin Creek in the Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg West has been charged with her murder.

Sanaya Sahib’s body was found in the creek at about 2:45am on Sunday by a family who had joined in the search for the little girl.

On the weekend her mother claimed that a shoeless man smelling of alcohol, of African appearance, had snatched the little girl from her pram at Olympic Park in Heidelberg West on Saturday afternoon. A major manhunt was sparked based on this account, with mounted police, members of the public and the State Emergency Services involved.  Local police patrols were stepped up in the area to calm public fears.  Despite all this, no independent witnesses came forward.

But police told a court hearing last night that the child’s mother,  Sofina Nikat, 22 of Mitcham, had now made a full confession to murder.

The police allege that Sanaya was murdered on Saturday and then her body was dumped in the Creek.

The Herald Sun reports a post-mortem will show that Sanaya died of smothering, but police media say the results have not been finalised.  Police investigators have confirmed they are “no longer looking for anyone else in relation to this investigation” but have refused to give further details of allegations surrounding the woman.

Damning Evidence

CCTV footage has emerged showing Ms Nikat walking to the park with a pram containing a child before calmly returning soon afterwards with an empty pram. Ms Nikat had been staying with her brother at his house in Perth Street, in Heidelberg West, almost two kilometres from where the toddler’s body was found.

According to the Herald Sun, Sanaya’s father, Sameer Sahib, said he felt sick in the stomach on learning his ex-partner had confessed to the murder of their daughter.

“I haven’t had any sleep and I can’t eat properly,” he said.

He claimed he was driving to join in the search for his little girl when he received a call to say that she had been found dead.  He says that he had separated from Sanaya’s mother around a year ago, and had been restricted from seeing the toddler for the past six months.

After learning the toddler and  her mother had been in contact with the Department of Human Services, he approached the government agencies but was advised to contact a lawyer.
Mr Sahib said he “trusted” the department would safeguard his child’s welfare so that “nothing like this would ever happen.”

Ms Nikat has  been remanded in custody and will face the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court again today.

Tributes to Sanaya have appeared at the site where her body was found, including teddy bears, flowers and notes.