A Tragedy Behind Closed Doors: Sayagi Sivanantham

Sinister South

In the summer of 2020, the quiet suburb of Mitcham was shaken by an unthinkable tragedy. Five-year-old Sayagi Sivanantham was found critically injured in her family’s flat, and what followed would unravel into a story that forced a difficult national reckoning. In this episode, we explore the human story behind the headlines – one of a vibrant little girl, a community in shock, and the quiet crisis hiding in plain sight.

This case asks uncomfortable questions. About mental health, motherhood, and what happens when systems designed to protect don’t catch the warning signs in time.

As always, there is the usual chaos and giggles before the case kicks off. This week is the tale of "Rachel and Hannahs very annoying day".

Sources used for this episode include:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-57598039

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53252015

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/11/london-woman-in-court-over-killing-of-five-year-old-daughter

https://news.sky.com/story/mitcham-murder-investigation-after-girl-five-dies-in-knife-incident-at-flat-12018900

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/metropolitan-police-mitcham-london-b942517.html

https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/british-tamil-child-murdered-london

https://www.arabnews.com/tags/sayagi-sivanantham

https://www.itv.com/news/london/2020-07-01/murder-investigation-following-the-death-of-girl-5-in-mitcham

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/mother-kills-daughter-covid-lockdown-depression-sutha-sivanantham-b942445.html

https://news.sky.com/story/mitcham-woman-in-court-charged-with-murder-of-five-year-old-daughter-12068821

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Produced and hosted by Hannah Williams & Rachel Baines
Mixed & edited by Purple Waves Sound (A.K.A Will)