A father wiped away crocodile tears as he and his wife were handed life sentences for the horrific murder of their baby son – who he had referred to as a ‘monster’ and ‘it’.
Miguel Pirjani, aged just 13 weeks, died in November 2024 after being ‘systematically abused’ by his evil parents.
The tiny youngster was left with 41 broken bones and a bleed on the brain, having seemingly been subjected to repeated assaults during his tragically short life. He died in hospital.
A court heard Miguel’s father Klevi Pirjani, 37, and mother Nivalda Pirjani, 34, had tried to blame each other for the murder but both were unanimously convicted by a jury last October.
At the sentencing hearing earlier today, Klevi Pirjani appeared to be wiping away tears as he learned his fate, closing his eyes and hanging his head at one stage before taking of his glasses and rubbing his eyes.
Nivalda Pirjani, who appeared in the dock wearing a beige turtle neck jumper and glasses, sat with her arms folded, staring straight ahead. She must serve a minimum 15 years and three months behind bars.
Sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court today, Mr Justice Baker condemned what he called ‘an abuse of power and gross abuse of trust of the bond between a baby and parents’.
He told them: ‘The best of medical science could not save Miguel Pirjani. He died from the irreversible effects of severe trauma to the head and neck.
Murderous father Klevi Pirjani, left, appeared to shed crocodile tears as he and wife Nivalda Pirjani, right, were handed life sentences over the death of their son
‘Migel 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.’
The judge said it was ‘more probable’ that Miguel’s head was battered by his father but he added: ‘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 was said to have referred to Miguel as a ‘monster’ and ‘it’, was told that he must serve at least 19 years before having any chance of release.
Mr Justice Baker said that although Klevi Pirjani had a ‘difficult’ childhood, ‘affected by armed conflict (in his native Albania) and the deaths of your father and young sister’, no mitigation could be considered.
The judge took into account Nivalda’s post-natal depression and expression of remorse – but he added: ‘That is rendered a little shallow by your determination to fight your trial, which extended to trying to limit your criminal responsibility.’
At their trial, the husband and wife later sought to blame one another for his death, with the mum even alleging that the dad had ‘lost control’ before headbutting and kicking their son.
Floral tributes to Miguel Pirjani piled up outside the family home in Seacombe, Wirral
Miguel died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, when his life support machine was switched off five days after emergency services were called to the family home in Seacombe, Wirral.
Klevi Pirjani had called 999 shortly before midday on November 24 2024 to report that Miguel was unresponsive, telling the operator: ‘It just stopped breathing’.
During the trial, Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, told 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.’
Doctors subsequently discovered that Miguel had sustained bruising on the left side of his head, while a CT scan found a fissure to his skull and bleeding on the brain, in addition to fractures to his right collarbone, left upper arm and left shin.
Arrest footage of Klevi Pirjani which has been released by Merseyside Police after sentencing
Miguel’s mother Nivalda Pirjani pictured at the time she was arrested for murdering her son
These broken bones were said to have been of varying age. Miguel remained in an unconscious state and his injuries were ultimately found to be ‘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 revealed further 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.
Under interview, Nivalda Pirjani gave a prepared statement to detectives in which she described Klevi as being abusive and violent – and said her husband was the one responsible for looking after Miguel.
Klevi Pirjani disputed Nivalda’s claims and said that no concerns had been raised during previous appointments with healthcare professionals.
The father also queried whether Miguel’s rib fractures could have been caused by resuscitation efforts.
Detective Inspector Holly Chance, of Merseyside Police, said: ‘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.’
