A 41-year-old Mapperley man has admitted that he murdered his 11-year-old son in Derbyshire. Michael Harrison, of Eaton Terrace in Mapperley, appeared in person at Derby Crown Court for a hearing on Monday (April 3).
Harrison, dressed in a grey tracksuit, had previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mikey Harrison during a hearing in December. That meant he admitted causing the death of Mikey, who died on June 18 last year, but denied a more serious charge of murdering him, Derbyshire Live reports.
But speaking at Monday's hearing in Derby, Vanessa Marshall KC, his barrister, said: "The matter is due to be tried on April 17 but medical reports have now been served by the crown and we have had the opportunity to speak to the defendant. We have taken a number of matters into consideration and can I ask that he is re arraigned?"
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Sue Ford, clerk of the court, said to the defendant: "Michael Harrison you are charged with murder in that on June 18, 2022, you murdered Mikey Harrison. Are you guilty or not guilty?" He looked forward and replied: "Guilty."
Harrison initially told police that Mikey's injuries were as a result of him falling out of a tree near the Shipley Country Park. But Miss Marshall said at a previous hearing: "I can make it clear it is the defendant's case that his son did not fall out of a tree but that he punched his abdomen area several times. There was a subsequent fall by his son where he fell in a bathroom and Mr Harrison believes he sustained a head injury and may well have fallen on his stomach."
Ambulance crews were called to the Thorpes Road area of Heanor at around 1.15pm on Saturday, June 18, after receiving a report that Mikey was injured. He died later in hospital.
In a statement released shortly after Mikey's death, Chief Superintendent Hayley Barnett, of Derbyshire Police, said: "I completely understand that the tragic news of a young boy's death has sparked shock and concern in the local community and that people will speculate about the circumstances surrounding the death.
"As is always the case once charges are brought, we are limited in what we can say due to ongoing court proceedings. I would, however, like to offer reassurance to the public, that we are treating this as an isolated incident." Michael Harrison will be sentenced at a later date.
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