Sunday Mirror

Mum ‘on Facebook as baby drowned in bath’

Cops probing neglect claims after 6-month-old Naomi dies

- BY DAN WARBURTON in Tel Aviv

THE MUM of a British baby who drowned in the bath is being probed by Israeli police over allegation­s she left the child unattended while she went on Facebook.

Kayla Lynton, 23, was arrested in Tel Aviv by police investigat­ing neglect claims over the death of six-month-old Naomi in July.

It is believed she initially said she had left the baby to go to the toilet.

But prosecutor­s are now investigat­ing allegation­s that Kayla – married to British recruitmen­t worker Ilan Lynton – may have been on the social media site when the tragedy happened.

By the time the mum called emergency workers, little Naomi could not be saved.

Naomi’s father last night confirmed his wife’s mobile has been seized by police as part of their investigat­ion.

A source said: “Kayla is currently waiting for a court date. She’s on a surety bond which means she must appear in court and at a police station when she’s required. Police are looking at whether she was on social media when she should have been caring for her daughter. She’s obviously devastated and now she’s having to deal with a potential criminal case as well.”

The grieving mum’s lawyer, Ofer Bartal, added: “Kayla does not know what to do with herself. After she saw Naomi was unconsciou­s she tried to resuscitat­e her and she called the emergency workers and police.

“We are now waiting for the police to decide if they will indict her and for what.”

COMA

Ilan – whose mother was born in Israel – moved to Tel Aviv from his home in Shoreditch, East London, more than five years ago.

He and Kayla, who previosly ran a child care business, married shortly after meeting in 2015 and had their first child Elizabeth, now two, less than 12 months later.

Ilan was at work when he received a frantic phone call from Kayla shortly after 3pm. She reportedly discovered Naomi had slipped below the water and was unconsciou­s.

The baby was taken to the Ichilov Hospital where she died after a week in a coma. Her kidneys were donated to another girl.

Kayla was quizzed by officers from Tel

Aviv’s Dizengoff police station who are now investigat­ing claims of neglect.

They are said to be looking at a 10-minute window leading up to

Naomi’s drowning during which Kayla is alleged to have accessed Facebook and Instagram.

The conditions of a

2,000- shekel (£ 420) surety bond reveals police are investigat­ing several possible charges:

“Causing severe injury to the helpless; neglect of a Our source added: minor or a person unable “Ilan is devastated. His to provide for own needs; whole life has been injury through neglicompl­etely torn apart gence; and negligent and he has struggled to supervisio­n of a child”. come to terms with

Legal experts in Israel what happened. say the most severe “He finds comfort in potential offence if Kayla looking after his is indicted carries a daughter, Elizabeth, possible nine- year but he’s obviously sentence. But was she heartbroke­n.

Her lawyer Mr Bartal on phone as daughter drowned? “How can you told us: “Police are investigat­ing many possibly deal with the loss of your directions. I don’t know what they really little girl?” think. They are asking many questions about many things but we don’t yet know what their findings are.

“It takes time between and investigat­ion and the indictment.

“Kayla was interrogat­ed on the day it happened but released the same day.

“She didn’t even spend one night in custody. Now she has been questioned one more time.”

Ilan and Kayla are understood to have separat ed since Naomi’s death.

We are now waiting for police to decide if they will indict her KAYLA’S LAWYER ON COPS PROBE INTO ALLEGATION­S

STRUGGLED

 ??  ?? SOCIAL MEDIA MUM
SOCIAL MEDIA MUM
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 ??  ?? DEATH QUIZTot’s mother Kayla under investigat­ion
DEATH QUIZTot’s mother Kayla under investigat­ion

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