Mum, 35, charged with stabbing her 5 year-old daughter to death in London

Sutha Sivanantham, a 35-year-old woman of Asian origin,  has been charged with stabbing her five-year-old daughter Sayagi Sivanantham to death, at their home in Mitcham, London.

Ms. Sutha made an appearance at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court via video link on Friday, and spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth. She was later remanded in custody till next Tuesday when she is due to appear at the Old Bailey.

5-year-old Sayagi was rushed to the hospital by paramedics but was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival. A post-mortem examination held at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital on July 3 showed cause of death to be injuries sustained from stab wounds.

Both mum and daughter were found with knife wounds at their flat in Monarch Parade on  June 30. The mother, according to a neighbour, was seen ‘lying on the floor in a pool of blood’.  She was also taken to hospital in a critical condition. 

A shocked neighbour of the Sivananthams, Ms Elsa Gonzales, described Sayagi as a ‘cheeky little girl, always playing with the neighbourhood kids’.  She was a ‘smart kid’, who ‘was always smiling’.