Mum Admits Manslaughter of Her 10-Year-Old Son at Old Bailey
Olga Freeman, 40, from Cumberland Park, Acton, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her 10-year-old son, Dylan Freeman, at the Old Bailey on Monday 25 January. The charge was due to diminished responsibility.
Tragic Night Unfolds at Acton Home
In the early hours of Sunday, 16 August 2020, Freeman showed up at Acton Police Station and confessed she had given Dylan some pills and pushed a sponge into his mouth. Police rushed to the home at 2:16am and found Dylan unresponsive. London Ambulance Service declared him dead at the scene. Freeman was arrested just under an hour later, at 3:11am, on suspicion of murder.
Heartbreaking Details Emerge in Court
A post-mortem at Great Ormond Street Hospital found the provisional cause of death was upper airway obstruction caused by a foreign object. Dylan suffered from serious physical and mental health issues that affected his communication and independence. Freeman had cared for him for years with help from local services and an acquaintance.
Freeman herself battled mental health problems and personal challenges. The court heard she confided in friends about struggling with the pressure of caring for Dylan. On the night before his death, she sent a chilling message to a friend: “I am done. Where are u?”
The friend arrived around 12:44am to find Freeman had booked two seats on a flight from London Luton Airport to Tel Aviv. Freeman claimed she had been hearing voices. The friend was not allowed into Dylan’s room.
Shortly before 2:16am, Freeman returned to the police station with the acquaintance and confessed to killing her son. During police interviews, she mostly said ‘no comment’.
Investigator Pays Tribute to Dylan and Responders
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “This has been an incredibly sad incident to investigate. Foremost our thoughts are with Dylan and his family, who continue to feel his untimely loss and will do so for a long time to come.
“I would like to thank my team of detectives, who have worked so diligently and professionally during this harrowing case. I would also like to acknowledge the selfless actions of my response colleagues who attended the scene on that night and tried in vain to save Dylan’s life.”
A sentencing date has yet to be set.
