Parents Handed Life Sentences for “Horrific” Murder of 13-Week-Old Son
A devastating case has concluded with a father shedding apparent tears as he and his wife were sentenced to life imprisonment for the horrific murder of their 13-week-old son. The infant, Miguel Pirjani, died in November 2024 after enduring what was described as “systematic abuse” at the hands of his parents. The tiny boy was found to have suffered 41 broken bones and a bleed on the brain, indicating a pattern of repeated assaults throughout his tragically short life. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
At the sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Klevi Pirjani, 37, and Nivalda Pirjani, 34, both of whom had attempted to shift blame onto each other during the trial, were unanimously convicted by a jury last October. Klevi Pirjani was observed to wipe away tears as his fate was revealed, at one point closing his eyes and hanging his head before removing his glasses to rub his eyes. Nivalda Pirjani, dressed in a beige turtleneck jumper and glasses, sat with her arms folded, her gaze fixed straight ahead. She has been ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years and three months behind bars.
Mr Justice Baker, presiding over the sentencing, condemned the actions as “an abuse of power and gross abuse of trust of the bond between a baby and parents.” He stated, “The best of medical science could not save Miguel Pirjani. He died from the irreversible effects of severe trauma to the head and neck.”
The judge continued, “Miguel was 13-and-a-half weeks old when he died. You were his parents, and you killed him by what must have been an act of appalling violence. I am sure that the fatal trauma Miguel suffered involved a heavy blow or series of blows to the right side of his head. Precisely how that was inflicted, I cannot say.”
While the judge suggested it was “more probable” that Miguel’s head was battered by his father, he acknowledged, “What exactly happened to Miguel that morning remains the guilty secret of a warped relationship. The interest of Team Klevi and Nivalda came first. There must have been an escalation in the violence against Miguel in the final few days, culminating in the assault on the 24th of November. You were in this together, encouraging each other.”
Klevi Pirjani, who had reportedly referred to Miguel as a “monster” and “it,” was informed that he must serve a minimum of 19 years before being eligible for parole. Mr Justice Baker noted that while Klevi Pirjani had a “difficult” childhood, “affected by armed conflict (in his native Albania) and the deaths of your father and young sister,” no mitigating factors could be considered for his actions.
The judge did take into account Nivalda Pirjani’s reported post-natal depression and expressions of remorse. However, he cautioned, “That is rendered a little shallow by your determination to fight your trial, which extended to trying to limit your criminal responsibility.”
During the trial, the couple had attempted to incriminate each other, with the mother even alleging that her husband had “lost control” and assaulted their son.
Miguel passed away at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after his life support was switched off five days after emergency services were summoned to the family’s home in Seacombe, Wirral. Klevi Pirjani had contacted emergency services shortly before midday on November 24, 2024, reporting that Miguel was unresponsive and stating, “It just stopped breathing.”
During the proceedings, the prosecution, represented by Peter Wright KC, presented evidence for the jury to consider. Mr Wright suggested to the jurors, “It is a matter for you to consider in due course as to whether this was a product of distress on his part, a language barrier or an unintended indication of his attitude towards Miguel.”
Subsequent medical examinations revealed that Miguel had suffered bruising to the left side of his head. A CT scan also identified a fissure in his skull and bleeding on the brain, in addition to fractures to his right collarbone, left upper arm, and left shin.
The court heard that these fractures were of varying ages. Miguel remained in an unconscious state, and his injuries were ultimately deemed “irreversible.” Mr Wright added, “At the time of his passing, his mother was permitted to hold his hand. Whilst present, she was heard to say ‘I should have protected you’.”
A post-mortem examination later uncovered further devastating injuries, including retinal haemorrhages, displaced skull bones, bleeding on both sides of the brain, bleeding around the cervical cord, and a fatal hypoxic ischaemic brain injury.
In initial interviews, Nivalda Pirjani provided a prepared statement to detectives, describing Klevi Pirjani as abusive and violent, and asserting that her husband was primarily responsible for Miguel’s care. Klevi Pirjani, conversely, disputed his wife’s claims and suggested that no concerns had been raised during previous appointments with healthcare professionals. He also questioned whether Miguel’s rib fractures could have been a result of resuscitation efforts.
Detective Inspector Holly Chance of Merseyside Police issued a statement expressing the force’s sentiment: “Baby Miguel’s life was cruelly cut short at the hands of his parents who were meant to nurture and protect him. We hope this sentencing provides some sense of justice for Miguel’s wider family who won’t be able to see him grow up and our thoughts remain with them.”
