A mother who killed her 10-year-old daughter, Shay Kang, has been handed an indefinite hospital order by a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Jaskirat Kaur, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility after stabbing her daughter 11 times in the chest with a Swiss army knife as she slept on March 4.
The court heard that Kaur was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack at their home in Robin Close in Rowley Regis.
Kaur, who showed no emotion in the dock, is currently a patient at the Chadwick Lodge secure hospital in Milton Keynes.
Shay Kang was stabbed 11 times in the chest with a Swiss army knife as she slept
WEST MIDLANDS POLICE
Kaur believed she was being targeted by lasers and technology, leading to her paranoid delusions.
She called 999 on March 4, telling police: "My kid is dead" - then, when officers arrived, Kaur explained: "It was me [who killed her] because I didn't want her getting took by it."
Concerns about Kang's welfare had been raised before.
The child had not attended Brickhouse Primary School for nine months between December 2022 and September 2023, prompting an intervention from police and social services.
In January 2023, Kaur called police requesting to speak on a secure line.
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Kaur was handed an indefinite hospital order by a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday
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When officers visited, they noted Kaur appeared paranoid - but Kang seemed contented.
Subsequent welfare checks revealed the 10-year-old's regression, with social workers noting her stilted movements and limited speech.
Kaur admitted to wanting to kill her daughter for seven months, telling detectives: "They can't adopt her, they can't take her. It's not going to make sense, but to me it does."
She added: "I would kill her again. I wanted her to die, I don't regret it."
Two forensic psychiatrists said Kaur had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia during the attack - one of whom, Dr John Croft, explained she believed she was protecting her daughter from harm.
Kaur (right) admitted to wanting to kill her daughter for seven months
Prosecutor Sally Howes KC detailed the events leading up to the tragedy, including multiple welfare checks which had taken place.
Despite concerns, social services felt Kaur was meeting Kang's basic needs.
After returning to school in January, Kang revealed she spent time alone, daydreaming or playing on her Nintendo DS.
The youngster told teachers there was no physical affection between her and her mother.
Carla Newby, Brickhouse Primary School's pastoral officer, read an emotional tribute to the 10-year-old on behalf of herself and her husband, the school's head teacher Paul Newby.
Through tears, she said: "Shay was always a bright, happy, fun-loving child who was well-liked by all. Her smile could brighten up the dimmest of days."
Floral tributes left at the entrance to Robin Close, Rowley Regis in March this year
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Judge Michael Chambers KC described the case as "a truly dreadful and tragic loss of life".
He said: "Every child looks to his or her mother for love and protection and this was a gross breach of that trust.
"What you have done has impacted many lives and the community rightly have been shocked," he added.
Chambers accepted a recommendation for the hospital order to protect the public from serious harm.
Katherine Goddard KC, defending, said Kaur would be forever grateful to Mr and Mrs Newby and the school community for the love shown to her and Shay.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Chambers accepted a recommendation for the hospital order to protect the public from serious harm
PA
She said: "This is not a short-term mental condition, it is deep-seated and long-term, with no guarantee of future improvement.
"In short, she will not recover from this condition quickly and there will remain a real risk of relapse.
"She has received no visits except for her legal team and received no letters and no-one has tried to contact her in any way.
"This represents the bleak sadness of the future that this defendant faces."
Reacting to the sentencing, Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt from West Midlands Police's homicide team said: "This is a harrowing case for everyone involved.
"Kaur suffered a mental health episode at the time of the attack which led to her daughter's death.
"Shay was a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. She has been described as a bright and happy child.
"Her death has had a profound impact on those who knew her as well as the wider community and our thoughts remain with everyone who loved her."
