Hove mum denies attempting to murder severely disabled son

Pembe Mehmetaliogullari has denied the attempted murder of her severely disabled son, Mustafa, known as ‘Musti’.

Mehmetaliogullari, 47, of Kerrison Mews, Lower Market Street, Hove, also denies a charge of giving the 10-year-old boy a noxious substance.

In opening the case against Mehmetaliogullari at Brighton Crown Court on May 16, Miranda Moore QC said that paramedics were called to the defendant’s home at Eastview Terrace, Sedlescombe, on September 27, 2018, and found him in bed and unresponsive.

She told the court: “He was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton where it was thought he might have pneumonia.”

‘Musti’, who the defendant adopted when he was a baby, died three days later.

A post-mortem later found there were traces of Citalopram, an anti-depressant, and Co-codamol in the boy's body.

The prosecution allege that Mehmetaliogullari administered the Citalopram to ‘Musti’ at home, and then gave him the Co-codamol while the boy was in hospital.

The defendant, pictured at court, adopted 'Musti' when he was a baby

The court heard that a 'Do not attempt to resuscitate' order for the 10-year-old, who had severe physical and mental disabilities, was in place.

The jury was told that in the run up to ‘Musti’ being taken to hospital the agency that supported the defendant in caring for her son had failed to provide the correct support.

The lead defence counsel in the case is Lewis Power QC, assisted by Aidan Harvey, while Ms Moore is assisted by Teresa Hay.

The trial before Mrs Justice Justine Thornton DBE QC continues.

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