Mother murdered her baby

Eloddie Goncalves-Taborda was convicted of killing her young baby in a 'traumatic' incident in Harlow three years ago

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Police mugshot of Eloddie Goncalves

Eloddie Goncalves who was found guilty of murdering 12-week-old baby Malik Goncalves

A mother has been jailed for life for the murder of her 11-week-old son, Malik, in Harlow three years ago. Eloddie Goncalves-Taborda, 32, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years to be served before she will be considered for release.

Goncalves-Taborda was jailed for the murder of her son Malik when she appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday (October 20). At the same hearing her partner, Muritala Olaiya-Imam, was jailed for 10 years for allowing the baby’s death.

Both were convicted of the charges at the conclusion of a seven-week trial at the same court back in July. The jury also found Goncalves, formerly of Harlow, guilty of child cruelty and, alongside her partner, both were found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mrs Justice Farbey, sentencing the pair at Chelmsford Crown Court, said Malik was a "blameless and defenceless" baby. The judge added that Eloddie "put her own selfish interests above those of a baby".

Emergency services were called to an address in Harlow at around 10am on August 19, 2020 after Malik was found unresponsive by his mother. Sadly, despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination found he died of a head injury, he was also found to have suffered 21 rib fractures, had broken wrists and two skull fractures in different places. The injuries were indicative of shaking and a blunt impact trauma to his head.

Emergency services outside the block of flats in Harlow

Expert evidence at the trial confirmed that his injuries were more likely non-accidental, the majority of which were caused between two and 12 hours prior to his death. The baby’s left wrist was fractured 3-6 days prior to death.

Both Goncalves-Taborda and Olaiya-Imam denied responsibility for Malik’s death and attempted to pervert the course of justice. Goncalves-Taborda was interviewed by detectives multiple times over an 18-month period.

Throughout the interviews she continued to deny responsibility for causing Malik’s death, going as far as to blame an unknown intruder for her son’s death. This was a claim for which detectives did not find any supporting evidence.

Olaiya-Imam told the investigating team during interviews that, although he wasn’t present at the time of Malik’s death, he was distraught and loved his son. He denied being involved in any child cruelty and that he was unaware of the earlier wrist 

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss, who led the investigation, said at the time of conviction: “The death of a young child is and will always be immensely tragic and our thoughts remain with Malik’s wider family at this difficult time. Malik died at the hands of those who should have cared for him most.

“This lengthy, sensitive investigation was difficult for all those involved. But I am proud that everyone acted with determined professionalism and focussed on what really mattered – securing justice for the death of their defenceless baby son.”

Goncalves-Taborda had the opportunity to give evidence during the trial but she chose not to. She was also convicted of assault on an emergency worker.

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