Mother, 32, sobs in the dock as she and her lover, 36, appear in court charged with murder of ‘cheeky monkey’ toddler who died just hours after his second birthday
- Sarah O’Brien, 32, and Martin Currie, 36, appeared in court charged with murder
- They are accused of killing O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien
- They were remanded in custody to appear on Tuesday at Sheffield Crown Court
- A post mortem examination determined Keighan died as a result of head injuries
A mother today wept in court after she was charged with murdering her two-year-old son.
Martin Currie, 36 and Sarah O’Brien, 32, from Doncaster were both charged with the murder of two-year-old Keigan O’Brien at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court.
The pair, who appeared separately, both only spoke to confirm their name and address as well as the fact they understood the charge they face.
They have both been remanded in custody to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday.
Sarah O’Brien, left, and Martin O’Brien, right, were remanded in custody today after appearing at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court this morning accused of the murder of two-year-old Keigan O’Brien. The pair will appear at Sheffield Crown Court at a later date
A post mortem concluded that two-year-old Keigan O’Brien, pictured, died of head injuries. His mother and her lover have ben charged with the toddler’s murder
Kiegan, who was described as a ‘cheeky monkey’, was rushed to hospital from a property in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on January 8, where he died a day later.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he died as a result of head injuries.
It was revealed that emergency services were called to the property in the Adwick area on Wednesday at around 11am.
The ambulance service had reported that the toddler had been in cardiac arrest at the home on Bosworth Road.
He was taken to hospital where he died on Thursday afternoon.
Pictures taken at the scene earlier this week showed a police car parked outside the terraced property where the suspected murder is believed to have taken place.
One shot of the kitchen window showed a multicoloured streamer with the words ‘happy second birthday’ written across it while another picture showed two bouquets of flowers left outside the house in memory of the boy.
A buggy and children’s toy could also be seen in the front garden.
David Brown, a 54-year-old auditor who lives next door to the house on Bosworth Road, described his neighbour as a ‘quiet’ and ‘nice’ woman who ‘kept to herself’.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector James Axe, said: ‘Specialist officers have updated Keigan’s family and are continuing to support them as they try to come to terms with and digest what has happened over the last 48-hours.
‘I would also like to please reiterate my request for people to be mindful of what they are posting across social media networks.’
Members of the community lay flowers outside the property in memory of the boy who passed away on January 8
Following his death, a multicoloured streamer with the words ‘happy second birthday’ could be seen stuck to a window of the property