Mikaeel Killer Jailed For 11 Years

25 August 2014, 12:00

A mother who killed her three-year-old son and hid his body in a suitcase has been jailed for 11 years.

Mikaeel Kular died two days after being beaten repeatedly by Rosdeep Adekoya following a family day-out in January.

After discovering his lifeless body on the floor of their Edinburgh home in Ferry Gait Crescent, she wrapped it in a duvet cover, put it in the suitcase and drove about 25 miles to Kirkcaldy, Fife, to hide it in woodland.

But she reported him missing to police, sparking a major two-day search operation involving hundreds of local people.

Adekoya, 34, a prisoner at Cornton Vale jail near Stirling, was initially charged with murder but last month pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.

She also admitted a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by pretending to police her son had gone missing.

She was jailed for 11 years when she returned to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing today.

The court heard that Mikaeel died on the night of Tuesday January 14 from injuries inflicted the previous Sunday.

His mother ''lost her temper'' when he was repeatedly sick following a trip to a Nando's restaurant at the city's Fountain Park.

She smacked him and struck him on the body and head with a clenched fist, the court heard previously.

When Mikaeel was sick for a third time, she dragged him to the shower by his arms and ''beat him heavily'' on his back as he lay over the bath edge.

Over the next few days Mikaeel's condition worsened and he was kept off nursery.

He was assaulted again on the Monday after being sick and became ''listless'', but his mother did not take him to a doctor because of the bruising.

By Tuesday night, Mikaeel was said to be ''quiet'' and was giving a ''limited'' response to his mother's questions.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice, prosecuting, told the court: ''He would have been in significant pain but was put to bed.

"The pain would have increased significantly while Mikaeel became dangerously ill and finally dying as a result of the injuries inflicted upon him by the accused.''

After discovering her son's body, Adekoya put it in a suitcase which she carried to the boot of her car, before taking his twin sister to nursery.

She left the case in woodland behind her sister's house in Dunvegan Avenue, Kirkcaldy, covering it with branches.

But mobile telephone masts recorded the 34-year-old's journey across the Forth Road Bridge, undermining her statements to police about her whereabouts.

She eventually broke down and took officers to his body.

The final cause of Mikaeel's death was found to be ''blunt force abdominal trauma'' and the court heard he had more than 40 separate injuries to his body.

Adekoya's internet history showed searches including ''I find it hard to love my son'', ''Why am I so aggressive with my son'' and ''Get rid of bruises''.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said Mikaeel's disappearance and death deeply impacted on his family and "resonated across the community in which he lived''.

John Dunn, Procurator Fiscal for the East of Scotland, said: "There can be few crimes more shocking than a parent killing their child.

"From the outset of the case, and working closely with the Police, the Crown has led an extremely thorough investigation in to the circumstances surrounding Mikaeel's death.

"All of the facts and circumstances of the case were carefully considered by Crown Counsel.

"Having considered all the evidence in the case, including that of expert pathologists, Crown Counsel concluded that pleas of guilty to charges of culpable homicide and attempting to defeat the ends of justice were appropriate.''