Mum Jailed Over Son’s Antidepressant Poisoning Tragedy
Guilty of Giving Son Noxious Drug
Pembe Mehmetaliogullari, 48, from Hove, was handed a two-year prison sentence—suspended for 18 months—on Thursday, July 28. She was found guilty in May of administering a noxious substance to her son, Mustafa, with intent to injure or annoy.
The jury ruled she gave Mustafa Citalopram, an antidepressant, between September 1 and 27, 2018. However, she was cleared of attempted murder charges.
Son Dies Days After Hospital Admission
Mustafa, who had severe physical and mental disabilities, passed away on September 30, 2018, at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. He had been admitted just three days earlier. A post mortem and toxicology tests found non-prescribed medication in his system. Yet, the cause of death remains unknown and the drugs could not be directly blamed.
Police Express Sympathy
Before hospitalisation, Mustafa and Pembe lived on Eastview Terrace in Sedlescombe, East Sussex. Detective Sergeant Barry Chandler of the East Sussex Safeguarding Unit said,
“This is a tragic case, and our thoughts remain with Mustafa’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
He added,
“I’d like to thank the jury members who carefully considered the evidence presented to them, as well as the witnesses and our investigative team who worked so hard on this complex and distressing case.”
