Illegal immigrant ‘battered her three-month-old son to loss of life’, court docket hears

An illegal immigrant battered her baby son to death, a court has heard.

Moroccan national Dounia Chetaouat, 32, and Algerian Abdelkader Essid, 44, are accused of killing their three-month-old baby Adam Essid at a flat in North Finchley, London. 

Emergency services rushed to the home shortly before 12pm on January 30 after Essid called saying his child had stopped breathing. 

Adam went into cardiac arrest when police arrived and was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital – where he later died after suffering ‘unsurviveable’ injuries. 

Chetaouat and Essid were subsequently charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. 

The mother, who had overstayed her visa, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link on Wednesday from Bronzefield prison but Essid was not produced for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Sarah Munro KC.

Prosecutor Joel Smith said the couple were due to take Adam to see a health visitor on January 30 but the appointment was cancelled by Chetaouat because she said she ‘had not slept well’. 

Moroccan national Dounia Chetaouat, 32, and Algerian Abdelkader Essid, 44, are accused of killing their three-month-old baby Adam, who died after being rushed to Great Ormond Street hospital

Judge Munro set a plea hearing for May 13 and a provisional Old Bailey trial before the Recorder of London from February 15 next year.

Chetaouat, of Kingsway, North Finchley, and Essid, of Clandon Gardens, Finchley, were remanded to custody.