Hackney: Mother accused of murdering son, 4, sobs in court
- Published
Kobi Macharia Dooly was found with multiple cuts in his cotbed, the court heard
A mother accused of killing her four-year-old son in a knife attack broke down in tears during her first appearance at the Old Bailey.
Keziah Macharia, 41, was charged with murdering Kobi Macharia Dooly after he was found with multiple cuts lying in his cotbed on 20 December.
On Thursday, friends and family of the boy attended court for the preliminary hearing.
Ms Macharia appeared by video link from Bronzefield prison.
Keziah Macharia appeared via video link in a grey tracksuit
She spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth, and cried throughout the rest of the hearing, as prosecutor Louise Oakley outlined details of the case.
On the evening of 20 December, police had been alerted to concerns for Kobi's welfare by his father, Ben Dooly, who had split up with the defendant approximately a year before, the court heard.
Within minutes of the 999 call, officers forced their way into the defendant's home in Hackney, east London, just before 23:00 GMT.
They found Kobi lying in his cotbed with a number of sharp force injuries, the Old Bailey heard.
He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where he died in the early hours of 21 December.
His mother was arrested at the address in Montague Road and charged with murder on 22 December.
During the hearing, Judge Lynn Tayton set a plea and trial preparation hearing for 21 March.
A trial before a High Court judge was provisionally scheduled to last for up to 10 days from 4 November 2024.
At the end of the hearing Ms Macharia was remanded into custody.
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