Mother charged with murdering severely disabled 10-year-old son to face trial

A mother charged with murdering her 10-year-old son, who lived with severe physical and mental disabilities, will face trial in the new year.

Pembe Mehmetaliogullari, 47, from Hove, is accused of killing her son, Mustafa, who died in September 2018.

A post-mortem examination and subsequent toxicology examination suggest the death was due to administration of non-prescribed medication, Sussex Police said on Monday.

Ms Mehmetaliogullari was freed on bail at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday until her trial in the new year, which is expected to last two weeks.

A national computer problem meant she could not appear by video in court.

Mustafa died at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton on September 30 2018, having been admitted for treatment three days earlier.

He and his mother had been living at Eastview Terrace, Sedlescombe, East Sussex, prior to his admission to hospital.

The prosecution follows a complex investigation by the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit.