Nadia Kalinowska's stepfather, Abdul Wahab, is jailed for a minimum of 22 years for her murder
The five-year-old suffered more than 70 injuries, including a fractured skull, when she was killed in 2019
Wahab had claimed Nadia was “clumsy” and had fallen down stairs on the night of her death
Nadia's mother Aleksandra Wahab is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for allowing her death
That concludes our coverage of the sentencing of Abdul and Aleksandra Wahab following the brutal death of five-year-old Nadia.
A judge said the little girl had suffered a "horrific collection of injuries".
Her extended family in Poland said their "worlds have been shattered".
"Nadia was just a child," they said. "A child who had her young and innocent life cruelly taken away."
Image source, PSNI
NSPCC’s Northern Ireland assistant director Bronagh Muldoon described Nadia’s death as a “tragic case”.
She told BBC News NI that Nadia died at the hands of the very people who were meant to protect and care about her.
“Nadia obviously died after a period of several months of abuse perpetrated by her stepfather and also the fact that her mother didn’t do anything to protect her,” Ms Muldoon says.
“So it’s a really concerning situation that a five-year-old girl lost her life needlessly.”
Initially, Nadia's stepfather Abdul Wahab said the little girl had got up in the early hours of the morning to go to the toilet, but had fallen down the stairs.
Wahab ran down the stairs where Nadia was lying crying on the floor, he claimed.
He also alleged that when he reached the bottom, he tripped and fell onto her stomach, placing his full weight on her.
Both Wahab and his wife, Aleksandra, previously said Nadia was clumsy and fell often.
But Mr Justice O'Hara rejected those claims.
Some more details about Nadia's death emerged in court:
Image source, PSNIAleksandra Wahab and Nadia
During the hearing, the judge read an extract from a victim impact statement made by Nadia's grandmother in Poland.
She spoke of her shock and grief at Nadia's death.
She added: "I have never imagined that something like this could happen and that the life of my granddaughter could be taken by my daughter and her current husband."
Image source, PSNIDet Insp Gina Quinn said her thoughts were with Nadia’s grandmother and extended family in Poland, who she said had suffered "unimaginable heartache and pain".
“The whole community, including teachers and staff at Nadia’s school, have been left shaken by this truly distressing case," she added.
“Nadia was a much-loved pupil at St James’ Primary School in Newtownabbey. This was her safe space; and I’m grateful to the school for their support throughout this investigation."
Image source, PSNISt James's Primary School in Newtownabbey, where Nadia was a primary one pupil, said staff and children had been left "deeply affected" by her death.
"She will be remembered as a very happy child who fully engaged in all aspects of school life for the short period she was part of the school community," a statement said.
The school said it will continue to pray for those affected by the tragedy and all victims of abuse.
"The safety, protection and wellbeing of every child remains our school’s highest priority," they added.
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
Image source, PSNIAbdul and Aleksandra Wahab sat in the glass-fronted dock at Belfast Crown Court, with guards on either side.
Another member of the security staff sat in between them.
The pair looked down at the floor for most of the sentencing hearing.
Towards the end of the 45-minute-long session, Abdul Wahab put his head in his hands and appeared to weep.
The court heard how the defendant had described Nadia as his “fairy princess” - part of what the judge said was a “pathetic” attempt by Wahab to “disavow” his plea of guilty.
Image source, PSNIAs the rain continued to pour outside court, Det Insp Quinn read a statement from Nadia's family in Poland who "loved and treasured" her.
"Nadia was just a child. A child who had her young and innocent life cruelly taken away," the statement says.
"We are still trying to come to terms with what happened to Nadia, and I am not sure that we ever will.
"To be honest our worlds have been shattered.
"Nadia will always remain in the heart of her loving grandmother and her closest family in Poland."
Taking questions, Det Insp Quinn urged anyone with concerns about a child to contact the police.
"There may be other Nadias out there."
Det Insp Gina Quinn said Nadia had been found unconscious at the family home in December 2019 and died a short time later.
She died from head and abdominal injuries, she told reporters.
"Nadia's mother and stepfather denied her the future she deserved," she said.
Det Insp Gina Quinn said Nadia was a young and innocent subject of a "campaign of violence" by her stepfather Abdul Wahab, while her mother ignored the "very obvious attacks".
"This was the ultimate betrayal of trust by the two people who should have protected, loved and cared for Nadia," Det Insp Quinn continues.
She was speaking to reporters outside Belfast Crown Court.
“They failed to ever seek medical treatment for any of her injuries," she added.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe PPS's Ciaran McQuillan said both defendants maintained throughout the case that Nadia was injured accidently.
He said the prosecution argued this was "clearly a lie" given the magnitude of the five-year-old's injuries.
“Every murder is abhorrent, but this was an especially sickening and brutal murder of a young child," he says.
“We in the PPS hope the conclusion of this case brings some comfort to Nadia’s wider family circle and all those who loved her as they try to cope with her death.”
Image source, PPSThe assistant director of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Ciaran McQuillan said the case is "deeply distressing".
In a statement following the sentencing, he said Nadia was a helpless and vulnerable child who should have felt safe and secure in her home, adding it was "difficult to comprehend the level of violence that was inflicted" on her.
"The medical evidence paints a picture of a shocking catalogue of abuse that culminated in her brutal murder," he says.
Mr Justice O' Hara said Nadia's mother must have been aware of the "violent beatings" her husband was inflicting on her daughter.
But the judge said she "completely failed" to protect her.
As he imposed the sentence, the judge said: "I don't accept for a second that she did not know that Nadia was being repeatedly beaten and attacked by her husband".
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
The court also heard further details about how Nadia was treated at home.
Her teeth were "decayed and rotten", and she was never taken to the doctor.
But the young son which Abdul Wahab had with Aleksandra Wahab, was taken to medical appointments regularly for “relatively minor matters”, the court heard.
The judge, Mr Justice O'Hara, said the contrast between how the two children had been treated was “dramatic”.
Nadia was in primary one, but her attendance was inconsistent.
The judge also said she had been wearing a traditional Muslim dress and her injuries were covered up.
More details emerged about Nadia's injuries during sentencing at Belfast Crown Court.
Her injuries included a fractured skull, a broken pelvis, eight fractured ribs and severe lacerations to her liver and bowel.
Her stepfather Abdul Wahab claimed Nadia was “clumsy” and had fallen down stairs on the night of her death.
But the judge said Nadia’s injuries were the “result of cruelty”.
The judge told Abdul Wahab the minimum jail term of 22 years reflected the “sustained nature of brutality” he had shown towards the little girl.
Nadia's mother Aleksandra Wahab, 28, who pleaded guilty to allowing the death of a child, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.
She will serve another five-and-a-half years on licence.
She had also pleaded guilty to allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.
The stepfather of Nadia has been sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison for her murder.
Abdul Wahab, 35, a Pakistani national, pleaded guilty in court in January.
He also pleaded guilty to two charges of grievous bodily harm with intent 24 hours before the child's death and on other occasions between July and December that year.
The judge at Belfast Crown Court said Abdul Wahab had carried out “brutal, merciless and outrageous” crimes.
The court heard that Wahab had violently attacked Nadia several times over at least five-and-a-half months.
Image source, PSNIWe're bringing you full coverage of the sentencing of two people after a five-year-old girl was tortured and killed at her family home in County Antrim.
Nadia Kalinowska was discovered severely injured at Fernagh Drive in Newtownabbey in December 2019.
She had a fractured skull and a lacerated liver.
Nadia had also sustained fractures and re-fractures to her ribs, a fractured collarbone, a fractured pelvis and an injury to her bowel.
She had 70 other injuries, including bruising and abrasions, when she died.
Her stepfather and her mother are being sentenced.