Parents charged with murder of three-month-old son in London

A mother and father in London were accused of murdering their three-month-old son.

Emergency services were called to their home in North Finchley at around 11.30am on January 30 to reports of an unresponsive baby boy named ‘Baby A’ at a property in Kingsway. Both Metropolitan Police officers and London Ambulance Service staff attended the scene.

Medical teams arrived at the scene, provided first aid, and then took the seriously injured baby to the hospital. His parents, Dounia Chetaouat, 32, and Abdelkader Essid, 44, from Finchley, were arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm later the same day.

The parents were charged with causing or permitting serious bodily harm to a child and appeared at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on February 2. Both were arrested and sent to prison.

Baby A died in hospital last Tuesday, despite medical interventions. An autopsy will be performed in due course.

Following the child’s death, his family was charged with murder.

The baby’s parents are expected to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court at 14:00 today.

Detectives continue to appeal for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to call 101 or text @MetCC on X quoting CAD 2297/31JAN.

Information can also be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.