Mum of child who died after being subjected to…

Mum of child who died after being subjected to religious fasting cleared of manslaughter

The mother of a three-year-old child who died from malnutrition and dehydration after being subjected to religious fasting has been found not guilty of manslaughter by reason of insanity. Tributes have paid to Taiwo Abubakar by his father following the conclusion of a trial over his death.

Olabisi Abubakar, 42, was found in an emaciated state herself by police in her Cardiff flat as the decomposing body of her son lay next to her on a sofabed. Taiwo weighed just 9.8kg when he was discovered on June 29, 2020.

A trial at Cardiff Crown Court previously heard Abubakar was "deeply religious" woman who would go for days without food or water. She was said to have become concerned for the safety of her and her son due to the coronavirus pandemic and wrote notes giving thanks to Jesus Christ and asking God for mercy. She was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was suffering from delusions.

Abubakar, also known as Shola Phillips, is originally from Nigeria and came to the UK as an asylum seeker in 2011 and spent time living in London before being housed in Cardiff in 2017 along with her son Taiwo. She was a member of a number of Pentecostal churches and attended the Army Ministry Church.

There had previously been no concerns about her relationship with Taiwo and those her knew her described her as "a good and devoted mother" with "obvious warmth" towards her child. But fellow members of her noticed she was fasting more days and were struck by how withdrawn she had become.

A friend attended her flat in Cwmdare Street, Cathays, out of concerns for her welfare and he could hear her shouting inside and asking him to call the police. When police forced entry they discovered Abubakar on the sofabed next to Taiwo who had been dead for some time. She could be heard shouting: "He's dead, he's dead, he's dead."

After recovering in hospital Abubakar was interviewed by police months later and denied subjecting her son to fasting. She said she believed she had been brought back to life by angels who she could hear singing.

The defendant was charged with manslaughter but was found not guilty by reason of insanity following a trial. Abubakar was also found not guilty of child neglect charges.

Following the verdicts Mrs Justice Jefford DBE said: ""It has been an unusual trial and this has been very different from most trials due to the agreement between the prosecution and the defence and the very sad circumstances of this case where someone had been a sociable, good, and caring mother suffered from a serious mental illness which resulted in the death of her child." The judge said she would impose hospital orders under Sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act at Abubakar's next court hearing on Tuesday.

Following the hearing, a statement was released by Taiwo's father. He said: "Taiwo was an amazing boy. He was a pleasure to behold. The first time I saw Taiwo he gave me such joy – I was fulfilled. I wish Taiwo was still with us but I want to remember him as the happy, talkative boy that he was.”

Detective sergeant John Harris from South Wales Police said: "This was a complex and tragic case. Our thoughts are with Taiwo and all those who knew and loved him."

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