Man on trial over death of son
Wednesday, 14 May 2003 19:45
The wife of a man accused of murdering his 20-month-old son has told the Central Criminal court that she was not in fear for her life or that of her son's life on the night he died.
30-year-old Yusif Ali Abdi, of The Elms, Clane, Co Kildare, who is originally from Somalia, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering his son Nathan on 17 April 2001.
The court heard that the couple had been living apart and Paula Bailey from Dundrum in Dublin took her son to see his father and later agreed to stay the night.
She said she woke up to find her husband taking their son from the bed.
When she got up, her husband was in the living room and had locked the door. She heard a number of thuds and when she looked through a glass panel at the top of the door, she saw Nathan lying on the floor.
She said her husband was praying. She later heard him call an ambulance. But she said she had no idea of what had happened. She told the court her husband was a great father who adored his son and would not raise his voice or lift a finger towards him.
She also told how during their marriage, her husband had become depressed and paranoid.
He accused her of trying to poison him or have him deported but she had no idea of the extent of his depression at the time of her son's death.
The case continues tomorrow.
