Council inquiry after boy's 'bleach murder'

A COUNCIL has launched an inquiry after a mother was suspected of murdering her autistic 12-year-old son with bleach.

The 44-year-old woman is being questioned by police after the boy was found with fatal injuries at the family home in Barking, east London.

His brother, aged 11, was rescued from the property unharmed and has been placed in the care of social services.

Barking and Dagenham Council said police, health workers and other local authorities had contact with the family in recent years, adding a serious case review had been launched to identify if anything could have been done to avert the tragedy.

Emergency services went to the two-bedroomed former council house on Tuesday at about 10.30pm. It is believed the woman forced her son to drink bleach and then consumed the corrosive liquid herself before dialling 999.

The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance but died a short time later. A post-mortem examination revealed he died from “ingestion of caustic liquid”.

Neighbour Steve Woodhead, 59, said he and his wife, Pauline, 47, had informed social services and police of their concerns for the two boys.

He said: “Social services have failed that family. How they could leave those kids in her care is completely beyond me. She kept them in the house most of the time.”

The woman, who was separated from the boy’s father, is being held on suspicion of murder and is expected to be charged in the next 24 hours.