A mother, 30-year-old Christina Robinson, is currently standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court, accused of murdering her three-year-old son, Dwelaniyah, in Durham. The prosecution alleges Robinson subjected her son to severe maltreatment, including burns, beatings, and ultimately a fatal brain injury. Despite facing charges of murder, manslaughter, and four counts of child cruelty, Robinson denies all accusations. The court heard about the intensification of violence against Dwelaniyah leading to his death, with Robinson admitting to disciplining her son with a bamboo garden cane. Robinson, who is representing herself and is a follower of the Black Hebrew Israelites, provided the court with information on her son’s birth difficulties and health issues. The trial is ongoing, with the judge advising the jury to base their deliberations solely on the evidence.

In a separate case at Chelmsford Crown Court, deliberations have commenced in the trial of 34-year-old IT worker Luke D’Wit, accused of the murder of Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64. The couple was found dead from fentanyl poisoning in their West Mersea home, Essex. D’Wit, who denies the murder charges, allegedly tampered with the couple’s will to inherit their shower mat business. The Honourable Mr Justice Lavender has urged the jury to carefully weigh the evidence. The trial, highlighting D’Wit’s purported motive linked to financial gain from the Baxter family’s business, is set to continue on Tuesday as the jury seeks to reach a verdict.