British nanny due for release

Ms Basuta was charged with killing 13-month-old Oliver Smith

A former nanny who was jailed in the United States for shaking a baby to death will be freed from prison on Monday.

Manjit Basuta, who has served four years for causing the death of 13-month-old Oliver Smith in 1998, is being officially paroled on Thursday.

The former nurse, from Ascot, Berkshire, was sentenced to 25 years in June 1999, but had her term reduced to eight years after admitting involuntary manslaughter at a re-trial last year.

The 48-year-old will now remain behind bars until after the weekend when she will be picked up by US immigration authorities for deportation proceedings to begin, according to the California Department of Corrections.

In view of the case itself, and the way it was handled, the trial she had was unfair Sukdave Singh, brother

Ms Basuta had moved to California in 1989 with her husband when he was offered a job as an executive with a communications firm.

Using her experience as a nurse, she opened a day nursery at the $750,000 home they bought in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego.

She was originally convicted under a Californian law, which states that anyone who assaults a child under eight using force likely to produce "great bodily injury" must serve at least 25 years.

Ms Basuta always protested her innocence and her family, from West Bromwich, who set up the Free Manjit Basuta Campaign, said she only pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain.

Admitted mistreatment

She originally said Oliver's fatal brain injury occurred when he was knocked over by another youngster as they played in the nursery at her home.

But at the re-trial she admitted mistreating the boy when he refused to co-operate as she changed his nappy.

She subsequently entered guilty pleas to child endangerment resulting in death and involuntary manslaughter.

Her brother Sukdave Singh said: "In view of the case itself, and the way it was handled, the trial she had was unfair.

"I think she deserved to be let out a long time ago and I'm glad she's coming out."

Ms Basuta had already served three years when her sentence was reduced to eight years, making her eligible for parole.