Neighbours torment baby death mother

Break-ins, vandalism and abuse from people who blame her for her five-week-old son's death have forced her and her partner to leave their council house.

The 31-year-old mother, now living in bed and breakfast accommodation, said: "I couldn't stand it any more. These people attacked my home, torched my partner's car and broke in and stole things.

"The verbal abuse was unbelievable. They said I was to blame, that I should never have left my baby with my brother."

It was on a day in 1997 that the mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left her son briefly with her 38-year-old brother and his 26-year-old common law wife, who agreed to babysit.

When she returned, the baby was grey and his lips were blue.

She rushed him to hospital but he died later at Guy's in London.

The brother and his wife were charged with murdering the boy and with killing two of their own children.

Expert witnesses testified all three children had been smothered but the couple were acquitted when the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to say which of the parents, if either, had been responsible.

The case led to an Argus campaign, backed by MPs, Brighton and Hove Council and concerned residents, for a change in the law.

Home Secretary Jack Straw is considering the matter.

The Brighton mother, still grieving over the loss of her baby son, said the abuse and trouble from "ignorant" people "who don't know the facts" had poured salt on her wounds.

Fighting back tears, she said: "The death of my son still hurts and for these people to blame me for his death is just unbelievable.

"If you can't leave your children with family, who can you leave them with?

"Now we are having to live in bed and breakfast, with no cooking facilities. When will all this end?"

Brighton and Hove Council said the couple are on a priority list for a new council home.

A council spokesman said: "We are hoping to get them re-housed in the next few weeks."