Murder accused mum tells jury of moment she found five-year-old son 'a bit off' in bed

A mum accused of murdering her five-year-old son has told jurors of the day she found him ‘a bit off’ in bed.

Claire Scanlon, 38, is charged with the murder of Dylan Scanlon and is on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court.

Emergency services were called to their home in Limeside, Oldham, on New Years Eve 2021 after he was found with over 60 bruises to his body. His cause of death was later found to be from mirtazapine (an antidepressant) toxicity.

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On day ten of the trial, Ms Scanlon gave evidence from the witness box. She told jurors that in December 2021 it was just herself and Dylan living at their home on Elm Road.

She said she had been taking mirtazapine for around nine years, but only took it ‘sometimes’ to help her sleep.

“At any time, did you give mirtazapine to Dylan?” her barrister, Louise Blackwell KC asked.

“No,” she replied.

“Did you hit Dylan?” Ms Blackwell asked. “Never. Never ever,” Ms Scanlon stated.

When asked if she knew how he got the injuries to his face and body, she said he had ‘fallen down some steps’, but did not remember when he fell. “Apparently it was the day before,” she added.

Ms Scanlon was asked what injuries she saw on Dylan, and told the court she saw he had a black eye. She said he was in her bed at the time, stating that he did have his own bed and would stay in it ‘most nights’ but he would climb into her bed.

She said that she gave him some Calpol for his black eye, which was in a liquid form, and denied giving him any other medicine.

She said she had taken just one mirtazapine tablet that day, and said she didn’t remember seeing Dylan with a mirtazapine tablet.

Asked about the day in