Mum who cried ‘I’ve killed my son’ after smothering boy, 2, to death took own life in prison, inquest told
A MUM who cried “I’ve killed my son” after smothering him to death took her own life in prison, an inquest heard.
Ayesha Henna Ali, 35, killed two-year-old Adam before ringing her mum to admit: “I’ve done something terrible”.
Police arrived at the flat to find the toddler already dead and Ali with self-inflicted wounds.
An inquest at Stoke Coroner’s Court was told the mum was found dead in her prison cell 19 days later.
The horror unfolded while Ali was living in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, Stoke Sentinel reports.
She had previously seen mental health professionals after expressing “suicidal ideations” but seemed to be improving by August 2019.
On January 19, 2020, her friend Alur Anypriya received a call from Ali’s mum saying she was worried about her daughter.
Alur told the inquest: “I called emergency services and I spoke to Ayesha for around 15 minutes through the door because she wouldn’t answer.
“She said ‘It’s too late, he’s been cold and blue since last night. The police arrived and she was arrested.”
Ali later said in a statement she gave Adam a bath then fed him fruit and yoghurt before putting him down in her bed as he didn’t have his own room.
She then told how she smothered him then caused injuries to his wrist with a knife as she “didn’t want him to be in pain”.
Ali continued: “I called my mum and showed my son on video. When I was arrested, I asked for the death penalty.
“He was my everything and I do not deserve to live.”
Witnesses claimed she was led away by police in a wheelchair saying: “I’ve killed my son, I’ve killed my son”.
The inquest heard Ali was taken into custody where a prison officer raised concerns to the jail’s psychiatric clinic.
Due to Finnish laws, the mum was put in a cell alone with white “privacy paint” on the windows for up to 30 minutes.
During this time, she attempted to take her own life and was later rushed to hospital.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
She died from severe brain injuries caused by a lack of oxygen.
Her mum Safia Ali told the court she begged her daughter to come back to the UK when her mental health declined but she wanted to stay in Finland where Adam’s dad lived.
She added: “We have nothing left now, I have lost my only child and my only grandchild. We’ve lost our whole life.
“Ayesha was taken into custody and they wouldn’t let us speak to her, even though we were promised. Ayesha had a Masters in Human Rights and wanted to help people. She was kind.
“She loved her child and couldn’t live one minute without him.”
The inquest jury returned a verdict of suicide.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.