A mother accused of murdering her five-year-old son said she could not explain why he had a fatal amount of an anti-depressant drug in his system, a trial has heard.

Today (June 22), at Minshull Street Crown Court, the trial surrounding the death of Dylan Scanlon on December 31, 2021 at his house on Elm Street, Limeside, continued.

Claire Scanlon is charged with one count of murder, with an alternative lesser count of manslaughter, as well as a further alternative lesser count of child cruelty.

Dylan was found on that New Year's Eve with 64 separate injuries to his head and body, though mirtazapine toxicity has been determined as his ultimate cause of death. 

Scanlon, 38, claims that Dylan fell off a ladder the day before he died, which caused his injuries.

Prosecutor Lisa Wilding today read out statements that discussed the events around Scanlon's arrest and time in custody.

On February 1, 2022, Scanlon was interviewed by police at Edenfield Centre in Prestwich, where she stayed for a two-month period following her arrest.

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During the interview, Scanlon's solicitor read a statement on her behalf, saying she was "devastated" about Dylan's death, that she would never have hurt him and was in no way responsible.

Scanlon was then interviewed by police once again after the toxicology report on Dylan's blood and urine samples were returned.

Dylan had 9,951 micrograms of mirtazapine, an anti-depressant drug his mother was prescribed, per litre of blood in his system.

Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson said mirtazapine toxicity was the cause of Dylan's death.

Once again, in a statement read on her behalf, Scanlon said: "I cannot account for why Dylan would have it in him and I would not give him any."

Ms Wilding also read from a transcript which detailed the conversation between Scanlon and emergency services when they arrived at her house on December 31, 2021.

She was asked about Dylan's alleged fall by a paramedic and initially said she did not know what happened, before saying: "I was picking him up because I was in the attic and he started climbing up the ladder, he climbed up it and all, he gets on top, that's what he's like."

Read our coverage of the trial so far:

In an interview with a psychiatrist at Ashton police station following her arrest, Scanlon's account of events was "chaotic" and lacked a clear timeline.

In the interview, Scanlon said: "I was decluttering the attic, he was climbing up the steps, I didn't think the mark on his head was that bad."

The psychiatrist said that during her spell in police custody after her arrest, Scanlon appeared "withdrawn and flat", she was talking to herself at points, and she was evasive when questioned about psychotic symptoms.

The trial continues tomorrow.