Mother to stand trial for murder of toddler son in Dublin

A Dublin woman accused of the murder of her two-year-old son will stand trial in the Central Criminal Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said.

Hazel Waters (46), of Ridge Hall, Ballybrack, Co Dublin, had been charged after toddler Muhammad Hassan Khan was found dead with stab wounds in the bedroom of their apartment at about 2pm on October 16th last.

She is accused of murdering her son at a time between October 15th and 16th last.

Defence solicitor Padraig O'Donovan told Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court that the case was listed for formal directions from the DPP to be conveyed.

A State solicitor informed the judge that “the DPP consents to the accused being returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court.”

A four-week adjournment was granted for the completion of the book of evidence.Judge Walsh further remanded Ms Waters in custody to appear again at the district court to be served with the book of evidence and sent forward for trial.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court had heard Ms Waters made no reply when she was charged with the murder of her son.

Due to the nature of the charge a bail application can only be made in the High Court and Ms Waters has been remanded to the Dóchas Centre women's unit in Mountjoy Prison.

At her first hearing on October 18th, the court had heard her only income was a lone parent allowance and she had been granted free legal aid.

An inquest into the death of her son earlier this month heard that the toddler died as a result of multiple penetrating wounds to his neck. Dublin Coroner’s Court has adjourned the inquest indefinitelypending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

Hassan's father Mohammed Saleem Khan (61) identified the body of his son for gardaí at Tallaght hospital on the evening of October 17th.