A cruel mother beat her
seven-year-old son to death before torching his body to try to hide her
crime, a court was told yesterday.
Sara Ege, 31, allegedly
killed her son Yaseen by hitting him with a stick and then setting fire
to the family home to disguise his murder, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Police initially believed the
house fire and Yaseen's death was an accident, but a post mortem
examination showed 'a catalogue of systematic physical abuse' against
the child.
Prosecutor Ian Murphy said: 'Within days when the smoke had cleared it emerged that Yaseen was dead before the fire had started.
The court heard that Yaseen's death had been been caused by significant abdominal injuries.
Pathologists also found
multiple non-accidental injuries on his body including broken ribs, a
fractured arm and a fractured finger.
Mr Murphy added: 'The fire
was started deliberately in the rear bedroom near where his body was
found. He had been set on fire and dragged onto the landing.'
Ege was arrested after the post mortem and barbecue lighter fuel was found on her clothing.
