The mother accused of murdering her five-year-old son struggled to "act rationally" in the build up to her son's death, a trial has heard.
Claire Scanlon, 38, of Elm Road, Limeside, is accused of killing her son Dylan at their home on December 31, 2021.
Dylan was found with 64 separate injuries to his head and body, but his cause of death was mirtazapine (an antidepressant) toxicity.
Scanlon has been charged with one count of murder, with an alternative lesser count of manslaughter, as well as a further alternative lesser count of child cruelty.
She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her.
On day 12 of the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court today (June 29), Dr Hetalkumar Mehta, a consultant neuropsychiatrist who wrote a report on Scanlon, was questioned.
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He assessed her in April this year and had read reports from other psychiatrists who had assessed Scanlon.
Dr Mehta said that in the period prior to Dylan's death, he believes Scanlon was depressed and that her cognitive functions and ability to think and act rationally would have been affected.
He said it is his opinion that her ability to see things clearly and form rational judgements would have been clouded.
Dr Mehta said Scanlon was suffering from a moderate episode of depression and Huntington's Disease and has a background of intellectual disability.
He believes she was suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning at the time surrounding Dylan's death.
Dr Mehta said if Scanlon committed the alleged act of giving Dylan mirtazapine, her mental state would have "substantially impaired her ability to restrain herself or act rationally, which impacted on her actions".
He also mentioned that Scanlon had told him during the assessment that she had tried to kill herself just days before he assessed her but that staff stopped her from doing so.
He admitted that he did not know if this was "accurate information".
Dr Mehta concluded his evidence by saying there was no evidence he had seen that has caused him to falter or doubt his assessment of Scanlon having diminished responsibility.
Read our coverage of the trial so far:
- 'You'll never see him again' - chilling message from mum accused of son's murder
- Dad of Oldham boy, 5, recalls devastating moment he learned his son was dead
- Oldham mum accused of murdering son, 5, 'shut herself away'
- Boy, 5, who died at Oldham home 'would climb on everything', trial hears
- Mum accused of murder told hospital worker she 'dropping son from attic'
- Mother admitted she killed son to support worker, trial hears
- Mum accused of murder 'could not explain' anti-depressants in son's system
- Mum accused of murdering son, 5, insists 'I didn't give him drugs'
- Mum accused of killing son questioned over 'just cremate us' letter
The court also heard a statement from Dr David Crawford, a consultant in neuropsychiatric genetics at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, who specialises in Huntington's Disease and assessed Scalon in July 2022.
Both Dr Crawford and Dr Mehta noted Scanlon's apparent amnesia, or loss of memory, is not a symptom of Huntington's Disease.
Dr Mehta, however, said denial, which Scanlon expressed when giving her evidence, is a symptom of the disease.
The trial continues on Monday (July 3).
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