Left her patient on the floor after she had fallen from her bed

Sibusiswe Msipha

November 18, 2019

A 38-year-old woman has been sentenced to 33 months in jail after she was found guilty at the Old Bailey of wilful neglect leading to the death of a woman in her care in Ealing.

Sibusiswe Msipha, of no fixed abode, was sentenced this Monday (18 November) after previously pleading guilty to causing the death of Mrs Hind Al-Charabi and fraud.

Police found her with a suitcase leaving the address at Corringway, W5 after they had been called to the scene of a sudden death at 8.35am on 17 November 2018. Mrs Al-Charabi had been found on the floor by one of her other carers. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Msipha, who was the weekday carer, was arrested and taken to a north London police station.

Detectives from Specialist Crime launched an investigation into the death. Throughout her police interviews, Msipha claimed that Mrs Al-Charabi had fallen from her bed and that she as unable to lift her. At no stage did she call anyone for assistance.
Msipha was charged on 18 November 2018 with manslaughter and fraud.

She was later found to be in possession of a fraudulent identity document and was in the country illegally.

Mrs Al-Charabi’s son, Khaldoun Zeitouni, said, “My mother was a gentle and kind lady. She had always been chatty, caring, and very loving towards all of us including her grandchildren. She was so generous with her time and emotional support. She was everything to me: my best friend, the person I would go to, often my companion, and my mum.

“My mother passed away on the 17 November 2018. She was at her home and under the trusted care of Sibusisiwe Msipha. This was the day that changed my life and that of my family. What makes it even worse is the thought of how she died. I entered the room and found her naked and broken, on the cold tiled floor of her bedroom.

“I have so many unanswered questions as to what happened, the extent of her injuries, whether she was in any pain, how long it had taken for her to pass away and was she calling out for me or for help.”

Detective Inspector James Howarth, said, “Sibusisiwe Msipha should have had the care of a vulnerable 89-year-old lady as her top priority. She failed in that duty. Msipha inexcusably abandoned Mrs Hind Al-Charabi to pass away on her own and showed a total disregard for the safety and security of a fellow human being.

“Mrs Al-Charabi’s family have suffered intolerably and whilst no sentence can ever make up for the loss of a loved one, we are pleased that justice has been served today.”