A mother has been found guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son by feeding him a "deadly cocktail" of drugs before he could be taken into care. Emma Barnett, 36, of Loughton, Essex, was discovered hiding in her loft with her son Oakley after a family court hearing on 8 November 2024 that had determined he should be removed from her. He had been fatally poisoned and was taken to hospital, where he died weeks later, Cambridge Crown Court heard. Barnett, of Chester Road, had denied murder. She will be sentenced at the same court on 5 June. Essex Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over its missing persons search for Oakley and Barnett. The IOPC said it had "identified potential learning" for the force. Essex Police said it had implemented its recommendations. Prosecutors said Barnett had also intended to kill herself and die with her son. After attending the family court hearing via an online link, she was reported missing, with suggestions she had taken Oakley to Epping Forest. Judge Mr Justice Derek Sweeting told the jury she later said in interview that she "wanted the police to think I was in the forest so I could stay indoors with Oakley".
May 28, 2026 → May 28, 2026
A mother has been found guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son by feeding him a "deadly cocktail" of drugs before he could be taken into care. Emma Barnett, 36, of Loughton, Essex, was discovered hiding in her loft with her son Oakley…
Read original at BBC →1 updates from 1 source.
A mother has been found guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son by feeding him a "deadly cocktail" of drugs before he could be taken into care. Emma Barnett, 36, of Loughton, Essex, was discovered hiding in her loft…
Read original at BBC →What this story stands on. Tier 0 is a primary record or the subject's own words; higher tiers must be attributed, never stated as bare fact.
A mother has been found guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son by feeding him a "deadly cocktail" of drugs before he could be taken into care. Emma Barnett, 36, of Loughton, Essex, was discovered hiding in her loft with her son Oakley…
View source →Tier key: T0 = Primary source · T1 = Wire · T2 = Outlet report · T3 = Commentary
A "crazed maniac" who murdered his cousin with an axe in her own home has been jailed for life. Donald Excell, 50, killed Rita Lambourne, 58, in Bexhill, East Sussex, on 12…
Prosecutors said Vickrum Digwa lied about the fatal attack on Henry Nowak after claiming self-defence A man has been found guilty of murdering a university student with a…
A Chinese lawyer who fatally poisoned the billionaire gaming tycoon who helped produce the Netflix sci-fi hit â3 Body Problemâ has been executed, according to Chinese state…
Reform UK has ended the Conservatives' 20-year reign at Suffolk County Council after taking control with a large majority of seats. The party, led nationally by Nigel Farage, won…
A man has been shot dead by police after an overnight stand-off in Bedford. Bedfordshire Police said it was initially called to reports of vehicles being damaged in Aylesbury Road…
The daughter of a World War Two soldier has described how he was "laughed out" when he tried to join the Royal Air Force because he was too young. After he was turned away, Norman…
