A mother has today admitted responsibility for the death of her three-year-old son.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Rosdeep Adekoya pled guilty to the culpable homicide of Mikaeel Kular after his body was discovered in Fife earlier this year.
The 34-year-old also pled guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
Mikaeel was originally reported missing from his home in Ferry Gait Crescent by his mother on the morning of Thursday 16th January.
His body was later recovered in a wooded area of Kirkcaldy. Adekoya, 34, was subsequently charged with causing his death.
She will be sentenced later.
Police Scotland launched a major search operation and investigation after Mikaeel was reported missing.
Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, Major Crime and Public Protection, said: “Mikaeel’s disappearance and death deeply impacted on his family. It also resonated across the community in which he lived.
“During the initial stages of the inquiry we appealed for information about Mikaeel’s whereabouts as concern for him grew. The local community assisted us greatly in that search. What followed was an incredible level of support and assistance to one of the biggest missing person inquiries Police Scotland has undertaken.
“Resources from across Police Scotland were deployed in the search for Mikaeel. These resources included specialist investigative and search support to local officers from Edinburgh and neighbouring divisions. Over two days officers were joined by members of the public in trying to find any trace of him.
“Sadly our inquiries led us to Kirkcaldy the night after he was reported missing and the discovery of his body.
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the public for all of their help during the search efforts and the continued support provided to police and Mikaeel’s family during the course of this investigation.
Incidents such as this are thankfully extremely rare and I would like to assure the public that whenever we receive reports of concern for children we investigate the matter thoroughly and should any criminal offences be detected, then those responsible will be brought to justice.”
Advocate depute Alex Prentice told the court: “The basis for the plea tendered being accepted is that the Crown accepts that the accused had no intention to kill Mikaeel and that the assault perpetrated upon him, although severe, fell short of the wicked recklessness required for murder.”
Speaking after the plea, a Crown Office spokesperson said: “Today Rosdeep Adekoya has pled guilty to the culpable homicide of her three-year-old son, Mikaeel Kular. She has also admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice by concealing his body in Fife and falsely claiming that he was a missing person, instigating a large scale search.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until the case has concluded and sentence has been passed.”
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