Courts / Dublin / Report

Jury deliberating in trial of doctor accused of murdering toddler son

Date
2018-12-20

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of Maha Al Adheem, 43, who is accused of murdering her three‑year‑old autistic son, Omar Omran, in their south Dublin home on 10 July 2017. Al Adheem admitted stabbing her son and claimed a "power" compelled her to take a knife from a drawer. The boy was stabbed 20 times, with wounds to the chest, abdomen, trunk and right thigh, including penetration of lungs and heart. She pleaded not guilty. Two psychiatrists testified that she suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was not aware of the moral wrongness of her actions, supporting a potential not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. The judge explained that if the jury is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of unlawful killing, they must then consider the insanity defence, with possible verdicts of not guilty, guilty of murder or not guilty by reason of insanity.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury deliberating in trial of doctor accused of murdering toddler son. 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 10, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
July 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-12-20 Publication

Why: Ms Justice Eileen Creedon addressed the jury saying that because of the admissions made by the defence in the case, they did not need to consider any charge less than murder. Defence account reported by CNI