Scalding case jury is discharged

Judge Philip Richards told the jury at Cardiff Crown Court the information could have a huge bearing on the case.

He said it was a matter of deep regret but that he had to discharge the jury.

A mother, from Ely in Cardiff - who cannot be named for legal reasons - has denied pouring boiling water over her five-year-old son 11 years ago.

The source of the new information was not revealed, but the judge said it would have to be investigated.

The woman, 35, previously told the court she had been about to pour water over an ants' nest when she accidentally lost control of the kettle.

Called for help

Her son, now 16, suffered 21% burns.

She said she had the kettle in one hand and ant powder in the other, when she heard her son and two-year-old daughter coming into the kitchen.

She told the court she had called for help as soon as she noticed her son's top was "steaming wet".

When asked why she had told the hospital the boy had pulled the kettle on top of himself while playing Power Rangers she replied: "I was scared of losing my baby. I was terrified he would be taken off me."

On Tuesday the court heard how the five-year-old boy had received "horrific scalding" burns to his chest and back.

"She then called me into the kitchen and said 'Sorry kid, but I've got to do this'"
Son giving evidence

The incident only came to light when the boy told his father nine years later he had not pulled the kettle on himself, the jury was told.

The prosecution claimed she had scalded her son to stop him constantly asking questions about his father, and afterwards had told him: "You say I did this and I will kill myself."

The boy said in evidence: "I was crying on the sofa because of what she'd said about my dad.

"She was in the kitchen and she flipped the kettle on three or four times.

"She then called me into the kitchen and said 'Sorry kid, but I've got to do this.'

"She then tipped the contents of the kettle over me."