Emma Barnett has been found guilty of the murder of her son by giving him a lethal combination of prescription drugs. The 36-year-old mother from Debden, Essex, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years for poisoning her one-year-old son Oakley with a cocktail of medications added to milk in a baby bottle.
The Crime
Barnett killed her son before he could be taken into care after a family court hearing ordered that he be removed from her. On 8 November 2024, she drove to Epping Forest and collected medications prescribed to her. She then laid a false trail, creating the impression she had gone to a friend's house and later to Epping Forest, when in fact she was hiding in the loft at her address with her son.
She added the antihistamine promethazine, which can induce sedation, and the antidepressant mirtazapine to juice and milk in Oakley's baby bottles.
Court Proceedings
Mr Justice Derek Sweeting, presiding at Cambridge Crown Court, described how after the family court hearing that ordered Oakley's removal, social workers and police sought to find Barnett to remove the toddler. "As the evening progressed concern grew for your welfare and Oakley's safety," the judge said. Barnett's car was found in Epping Forest, leading to a search with a helicopter and police dogs.
Police attended her address shortly before midnight and "heard the sound of a baby crying coming from the loft." An officer tried to talk her down, but at 12:16 am on 9 November, "the situation changed dramatically – in answer to a question from a police officer, you said 'I killed him'." Officers immediately forced entry and found Oakley unresponsive. Barnett had also tried to take her own life.
Victim and Sentencing
Oakley, who was 14 months old, died in hospital on 31 December 2024. The judge, sentencing Barnett to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years, said: "This was the killing of a very young and vulnerable child wholly dependent on you brought about by your deliberate actions." He said he was "certain" Barnett had "set about planning (her) own death in advance" and added: "I consider it at least possible it wasn't until 8 November you came to the view that if you could not have Oakley, no one else could have him."
The judge acknowledged she had a "recognised mental health disorder" and that her five older children had already been removed from her care. Jonathan Higgs KC, mitigating, said the five children were removed "as she was unable to look after them herself" and that she was of previous good character.
Barnett had denied murder but was found guilty last week after an earlier trial.
