Mother admits killing disabled son at home in West London after suffering breakdown

Olga Freeman -Olga Freeman, 40 (19.03.80), of Cumberland Park, Acton, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Monday, 25 January to the manslaughter of 10-year-old Dylan Freeman by reason of diminished responsibility.
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Olga Freeman (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

A mother has admitted killing her disabled 10-year-old boy after suffering a mental breakdown while struggling to care for him during the Covid lockdown.

Olga Freeman, 40, was charged with the murder of Dylan Freeman, who was found dead at their home in Cumberland Park, Acton in August last year.

The boy was found in the main bedroom of the house in West London and a post-mortem gave the cause of Dylan’s death as restriction of the airways.

At the time of his death, his father, the celebrity photographer Dean Freeman, was in Spain.

At a virtual hearing on Monday at the Old Bailey, Russian national Freeman denied her son’s murder but admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson QC said the plea was acceptable to the Crown after careful consideration.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, lead investigator, said: "This has been an incredibly sad incident to investigate. Foremost our thoughts are with Dylan and his family, who continue to feel his untimely loss and will do so for a long time to come.

"I would like to thank my team of detectives, who have worked so diligently and professionally during this harrowing case. I would also like to acknowledge the selfless actions of my response colleagues who attended the scene on that night and tried in vain to save Dylan's life."