A doctor has told a trial that if a mother accused of murder had given her son a large number of anti-depressant tablets, it would have been a planned act.
Claire Scanlon is accused of killing her son Dylan, five, 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, 38, Elm Road, Limeside, 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.
Today, Monday, at Minshull Street Crown Court, the trial heard evidence from Dr Nigel Blackwood, a consultant forensic psychiatrist who assessed Scanlon and wrote two reports on her.
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Dr Blackwood said that he believed Scanlon could make rational judgements at the time of Dylan's death, as opposed to Dr Hetalkumar Mehta, who gave evidence on Thursday, June 29.
Dr Mehta believed Scanlon struggled to act rationally around the time of Dylan's death and that she had diminished responsibility in his death.
However, Dr Blackwood offered a differing view to the jury.
He said he did not agree with Dr Mehta that there was substantial impairment in Scanlon's ability to form rational judgements or exercise self-control in late 2021.
Dr Blackwood said that around this time, Scanlon was consistently carrying out acts such as taking Dylan to school and back home, feeding him, interacting with Mr Keenan's solicitor, shopping for food and shopping online.
He said this showed Scanlon's "real world planning" was "reasonable" at the time and that she could make rational judgements.
Dr Blackwood said Scanlon was aware of the consequences of her actions at the time, and although she struggled with impulsivity, the act of giving her child enough anti-depressant tablets to kill him would have to have been "planned and deliberate".
He told the court: "I do not consider the defence of diminished responsibility obtains."
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'
- Mum accused of murder told hospital worker she 'dropped 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
- Mum accused of killing son struggled to 'act rationally' before his death
Dr Blackwood also looked at messages Scanlon sent to her ex-partner and Dylan's father, Gary Keenan, in 2021 and concluded that the messages took on a "more threatening tone" in November and December 2021, the weeks before Dylan's death.
He described Scanlon's messages to Mr Keenan in 2021 as a "relentless stream" but said he did not believe they were irrational.
Dr Blackwood said Scanlon's complaints to a solicitor in December 2021 made "perfect sense" when compared to her messages to Mr Keenan and the note in her bedside drawer that was found at the scene of Dylan's death, where she wrote "just cremate us".
The trial continues tomorrow, Tuesday.
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