Mother of 'salt baby' breaks down

Marianne Williams denies murdering her son Joshua in 2004

A mother accused of murdering her son by salt poisoning broke down in tears as she described the 15-month-old's final hours of life.

Marianne Williams, from Wiltshire, told Winchester Crown Court how she cuddled Joshua Taylor before his life support machine was turned off.

The 24-year-old denies murdering Joshua in February 2004 by giving him salt, and an alternative manslaughter charge.

Giving evidence, she said: "I stayed with him up until they turned it off."

The prosecution claim Ms Williams murdered Joshua because she could not cope after he was born prematurely in November 2002 with kidney failure among other serious ailments.

Josh appeared dazed and was staring at the ceiling Marianne Williams

Michael Topolski, defending, asked her: "Did you deliberately and with the intention of killing him, give him an excessive amount of sodium?"

"No, not at all," she replied.

The court was told that, at the time, police had searched the home Ms Williams shared with her partner Paul Taylor after doctors raised concerns that Joshua had been poisoned when he was admitted to Southampton General Hospital on 24 February, 2004.

He died three days later. High salt levels in his blood led to severe brain damage.

Giving evidence, Ms Williams told the jury that Joshua had vomited seven times that night and she had taken him downstairs to stay up with him.

"He was quite happy rolling about the floor playing with his toys and babbling," she said.

Joshua had medical problems and needed daily medication

But his condition changed after what she described was a "laughing fit".

"I was just finishing my cup of tea or coffee when I heard Joshua laughing. I went out to see what it was. Josh appeared dazed and was staring at the ceiling.

"I was slightly worried then. I sat on the sofa next to him and said 'Josh', Josh'. After a couple of seconds he stopped laughing and came around and was all right."

She spoke to her partner and they decided to take him to hospital. When they got there Joshua's lips had turned blue.

Ms Williams, originally from Wales, was on anti-depressants at the time of her son's death and she told police in an interview that she could not cope with looking after him.

But she told the jury that she had started to feel much better when she began the course of anti-depressants.

Asked by Mr Topolski whether she loved her son, she added: "I did very, very much and I still do."

The trial continues.