Courts / Dublin / Report

Doctor who stabbed toddler son fulfils criteria for insanity verdict, trial hears

Date
2018-12-19

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a December 2018 trial, psychiatrists testified that Maha Al Adheem, a 43‑year‑old Kuwaiti doctor, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the July 2017 murder of her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran. The witnesses agreed she could not appreciate that her actions were morally wrong and could not refrain from them. Al Adheem admitted stabbing her son 20 times, including wounds to his lungs, heart and a vital artery, and claimed a "power" compelled her to use a knife she had bought from Lidl. She had previously been admitted to St James's Hospital in March 2017 for suicidal thoughts and had a history of depression and psychosis. The court heard that Al Adheem met two of the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and the trial was set to resume before a jury and Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Doctor who stabbed toddler son fulfils criteria for insanity verdict, trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering Omar Omran on July 10, 2017 at the same address. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

July 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
July 10, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
January 9, 2014 Other
March 14, 2017 Other
March 2017 Other
2018-12-19 Publication

Why: Ms Al Adheem felt very depressed in the months prior to the event because of her child's autism and the fact schools were refusing to take her son. CNI source report