USHAW MOOR, Durham, England – The jury has started deliberations in the trial of a mother accused of murdering her three-year-old son. Christina Robinson is on trial for allegedly violently shaking her son Dwelaniyah, causing a fatal brain injury. The 30-year-old also faces four child cruelty offenses related to incidents leading up to his death.
During the three-week trial, the prosecution argued that Robinson deliberately scalded the boy as a form of punishment, hit him with spoons, slapped him, and beat him with a bamboo cane. Additionally, they claimed that Robinson neglected him by leaving him alone at home and failed to seek medical attention for his burns. Robinson, now representing herself after parting ways with her legal team, pleaded not guilty and gave a closing speech to the jury.
Robinson questioned the expert evidence regarding her son’s cause of death, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances. She mentioned that her son was “clumsy” and often bumped into things, suggesting that his injuries could be attributed to accidents rather than intentional harm. Robinson denied the accusation that her son was considered an “inconvenience,” emphasizing her desire for a large family.
One admission Robinson made was her use of the bamboo cane on Dwelaniyah, describing it as a means of “correction.” However, she claimed that she had been “misguided,” citing a religious lesson she had encountered online. As a follower of the Black Hebrew Israelites religion, she argued that her actions were rooted in biblical teachings.
Robinson admitted that Dwelaniyah suffered burns accidentally while she was washing him in the shower. She explained that her reluctance to seek medical attention stemmed from feeling ashamed. Mr Justice Garnham has sent the jury to begin their deliberations, emphasizing that they should not feel pressured by time constraints. The outcome of this case now rests in their hands.