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Stepmother pleads guilty to murdering boy (4) after child witness evidence is read

Summary

On 11 November 2025, a woman in her 30s pleaded guilty to murdering her four‑year‑old stepson at her home in March 2021. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, had begun with the defendant pleading not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. After a child witness's evidence was read, the accused's barrister requested time with his client. The jury returned at 3.03 pm, and the defendant was arraigned on the single charge of murder. She pleaded guilty to that charge. Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jury and adjourned the case to 1 December, when the defendant will face the mandatory life sentence for murder. The child's mother will give a statement before sentencing. The defendant's identity is withheld to protect the child witness whose evidence was read into the record.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Stepmother pleads guilty to murdering boy (4) after child witness evidence is read. Charges or matters: the single count; endangerment, neglect and impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the stepmother, knowing or believing she had murdered his son. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 2021 Adjournment
• December 1 Adjournment
• November 2024 Other
• March 13, 2021 Other
• 2025-11-11 Publication

Why: She said: "It looked like he had been hit on more than one occasion because of the different colours. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report