The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Delivering cash in communities
ACCUSED OF MURDERING THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD
CHILD murder accused Christina Robinson appeared “calm” and “unpanicked” as paramedics worked to save her threeyear-old son’s life after she allegedly attacked him, a court heard.
Robinson, who claimed the Bible told her she was allowed to chastise her child, is accused of killing little Dwelaniyah after subjecting him to cruelty, including by allegedly deliberately immersing him in scalding water and hitting him with a bamboo cane.
She denies murder and child cruelty and is standing trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
The emergency services were called to her home in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, following his collapse in November 2022. The prosecution alleges she inflicted a fatal head injury but she claimed her son had choked on a cheese sandwich.
The jury has heard she had allegedly previously deliberately scalded his legs and bottom, causing excruciating pain, but failed to seek medical attention.
After he died, a bamboo cane was found that had traces of his blood and skin on it.
Robinson claims she could use the cane as a follower of the teachings of the Bible, the court heard. On the second day of her trial, PCSO Paul Gilroy, who responded to an emergency call at the home, said he arrived at a similar time to paramedics.
He saw a little boy wearing a nappy with blood-stained bandages on his legs.
As paramedics worked on her son, Robinson watched on and did not say much, Mr Gilroy said. When the ambulance crew asked her what had happened, she said she did not know, he said.
He added: “She was really quiet, calm, seemingly unpanicked I would have said,” the police support officer said.
Dr Nicola Mullins worked with the Great North Air Ambulance Service and attended at the house 19 minutes after the first paramedics had arrived.
Although Dwelaniyah was taken to hospital, she agreed when Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, said the little boy was essentially already dead while attempts to save him were made at the house.
PC Emma Watson attended the house and recorded her interactions with Robinson using her body-worn camera.
PC Watson was asked whether Robinson’s presentation in the video is representative of how she was.
She replied: “Absolutely, she remained the same. I would describe her as quiet, calm and composed in the situation and that didn’t change throughout my interaction with Christina.”
PC Watson said she overheard part of a phone conversation between Robinson and her husband.
She heard Robinson say “Are you saying this is my fault” and “I’m not accusing you of anything, this is not tit-for-tat, don’t bring this kind of attitude, I’m not in the mood for it.”
PC Watson said when Dwelaniyah was on his way to hospital she “felt there was no sense of urgency” with Robinson, who was still at home getting the younger child ready.
She said Robinson told her she was seven weeks pregnant but had not told her husband.
At the hospital, she said Robinson cried when told Dwelaniyah could not be saved and said “What next?” PC Watson said Robinson was given the opportunity to hold Dwelaniyah’s body and “silently cried” and wiped away tears.
Jurors have heard Dwelaniyah was in Robinson’s sole care as his father was away serving with the RAF. She was pregnant at the time having used a sperm donor and was having an affair with a man she met online, the court has heard.
The court was told it is agreed between the prosecution and defence that Dwelaniyah’s dad, Gabriel Adu-appu is not responsible for any of the injuries that either caused or contributed to his death or were noted at post mortem.
The trial continues.
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of the population live within three miles of a Post Office branches are open seven days a week