Life term for ex-DJ who killed little girl

Delroy Catwell, 31, carried out a “forceful and sustained attack” on Lylah Aaron and was told by Mrs Justice Nicola Davies: “It is difficult to conceive of a greater abuse of trust than that which you perpetrated in killing this vulnerable and defenceless young girl.”

Catwell denied killing Lylah at the house they shared with the girl’s mother in the Shiregreen area of Sheffield but was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday.

He had been left in charge of Lylah as her mother Precious Chibanda went to work in Derby as a trainee nurse on February 8.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how her mother returned later to find her daughter in bed and only later realised she was unconscious. She suffered serious head injuries and died later in hospital.

Ms Chibanda left home at 5.30am that day, the court was told. Lylah was to go to nursery, and as it was “pyjama day” Ms Chibanda left out pyjamas for Lylah to wear.

The judge told Catwell: “At 2.30 that afternoon you telephoned Precious to tell her that Lylah was unwell, she seemed tired and did not want to go to nursery, she wanted to sleep. As a result you had not taken her to nursery.

“Precious told you to let Lylah sleep. Unbeknown to Precious, at around midday you inflicted the injuries upon Lylah which were causative of her death.”

Lylah suffered a fatal haemorrhage and brain swelling as a result of multiple blows to the head.

Speaking outside court Lylah’s uncle Keith Chibanda said: “We would like to thank the police and other professionals for their diligent work on this case.

“Justice for our baby girl has been done in the system we are living in. We will continue to grieve for little Lylah in private and we will miss her dearly. She will never be forgotten by her family and friends. Our love for her remains forever.”