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| Mother 'poisoned' boy with salt | Mother 'poisoned' boy with salt |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A mother murdered her 16-month-old son by poisoning him with table salt, a court heard. | A mother murdered her 16-month-old son by poisoning him with table salt, a court heard. |
| Joshua Taylor was taken into hospital on 24 February 2004 in a seriously ill condition and died three days later. | Joshua Taylor was taken into hospital on 24 February 2004 in a seriously ill condition and died three days later. |
| Richard Smith QC, prosecuting at Winchester Crown Court, said tests showed the boy had very high levels of sodium in his body. | Richard Smith QC, prosecuting at Winchester Crown Court, said tests showed the boy had very high levels of sodium in his body. |
| Marianne Williams, 24, of Wiltshire, denies a charge of murder and an alternative of manslaughter. | Marianne Williams, 24, of Wiltshire, denies a charge of murder and an alternative of manslaughter. |
| Mr Smith told the jury: "Joshua's death had been caused by that very high level of sodium in his body. That fatal condition did not occur, say the Crown, in any way naturally. | Mr Smith told the jury: "Joshua's death had been caused by that very high level of sodium in his body. That fatal condition did not occur, say the Crown, in any way naturally. |
| "Rather, it was the result of Joshua having been given an excessive amount of sodium, most likely predominantly, but not exclusively, common table salt. | "Rather, it was the result of Joshua having been given an excessive amount of sodium, most likely predominantly, but not exclusively, common table salt. |
| Joshua had medical problems and needed daily medication | |
| "Joshua had in effect been poisoned with a sodium, salt if you like, overdose. | "Joshua had in effect been poisoned with a sodium, salt if you like, overdose. |
| "The evidence leads to a sad but inevitable conclusion that this defendant, Marianne Williams, administered that sodium to cause her son's death." | "The evidence leads to a sad but inevitable conclusion that this defendant, Marianne Williams, administered that sodium to cause her son's death." |
| Sodium medication | |
| The court heard that when Joshua was born he weighed only 2lb 10oz (1.2kg) and had a number of medical problems. | The court heard that when Joshua was born he weighed only 2lb 10oz (1.2kg) and had a number of medical problems. |
| Mr Smith said: "Joshua needed intensive round-the-clock medical care as well as a substantial amount of daily medication to try to foster his survival and his growth." | Mr Smith said: "Joshua needed intensive round-the-clock medical care as well as a substantial amount of daily medication to try to foster his survival and his growth." |
| The jury heard Joshua's very small kidneys meant he found it difficult to conserve enough sodium in his system. | The jury heard Joshua's very small kidneys meant he found it difficult to conserve enough sodium in his system. |
| He was medicated with sodium chloride almost every day to restore his body's natural balance, the court heard. | He was medicated with sodium chloride almost every day to restore his body's natural balance, the court heard. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |