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History
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2014 > UK > Violence > Police (I)
Mother of Mikaeel Kular charged
in
connection with death of three-year-old
Saturday 18
January 2014
23.53 GMT
The Guardian
Severin Carrell and Barry Neild
This article was published on the Guardian website
at 23.53 GMT on Saturday 18 January 2014.
It was last modified at 01.30 GMT
on Sunday 19 January 2014.
Rosdeep
Kular, the mother of missing Edinburgh boy Mikaeel Kular, was charged in
connection with his death and will appear in court on Monday. The dramatic
announcement capped an extraordinary day as it came nearly 24 hours after a
body, now formally identified as the toddler, was found behind a property in
Kirkcaldy following a major search involving hundreds of volunteers.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham told a press briefing
late on Saturday night that the investigation had "continued at pace" following
the discovery.
"Following formal identification I can now confirm that a 33-year-old woman has
been arrested and charge in connection with Mikaeel's death," Graham said. "The
woman is expected to appear at Edinburgh sheriff court on Monday."
He thanked members of the public for their response following news of Mikaeel's
disappearance, including the scores of volunteers who searched for the boy in
"extremely adverse weather conditions" and said police had received 500 phone
calls relating to the case.
He said: "I would like to again recognise the overwhelming public assistance
that Police Scotland have received during the course of this very complex
investigation. This includes his family and friends, with whom our thoughts
remain. Over 200 civilian volunteers joined the search for Mikaeel within the
Pennywell, Muirhouse and Silverknowes areas of Edinburgh during adverse weather
conditions and cold temperatures.
"Our dedicated number received in excess of 500 calls, with people wishing to
provide information to help establish Mikaeel's whereabouts. I would like to
extend my sincerest thanks to you all for your vital support. My thanks also go
to the various external search agencies who provided essential resources,
equipment and personnel during this enquiry.
"Enquiries continue, led by the major investigation team of Police Scotland,
supported by a range of local and national specialist assets from across the
country. I ask that anybody who has any information that they feel would assist
the investigation contacts the police."
Graham said he would be unable to answer further questions about the
investigation.
Dozens of uniformed police officers and forensic science experts had earlier
conducted a major search at a property in Kirkcaldy and the wooded area and
undergrowth immediately behind it. The immediate area around the bungalow,
including the woods, was taped off as officers wearing white protective suits
and face masks began a minute search for evidence.
News of the body's discovery came early on Saturday morning, when Graham told
the media that a child's body had been found at the property, about 25 miles
from Mikaeel's home in north Edinburgh.
Announcing that further scheduled searches of streets around the boy's home in
Drylaw had been called off, Graham said: "The investigation into the
disappearance of Mikaeel Kular has been wide-ranging and fast-moving. As a
result of inquiries, the body of a young child was recovered in Fife just before
midnight. We strongly believe this to be the body of Mikaeel. A person has been
detained in connection with the recovery of the body and members of Mikaeel's
family have been informed of the recovery."
The news came about seven hours after Graham had said that police feared the
worst and were "gravely concerned" after failing to find any clue to Mikaeel's
whereabouts for nearly 48 hours, after extensive searches involving several
hundred civilian volunteers in the area around the family home. Graham said
police feared the boy's disappearance could have been due to "a criminal act",
leading them to begin a criminal investigation.
Olga Park, a neighbour living opposite where the body was discovered, said: "I'm
just absolutely shocked about what's happened. The fact he's just a
three-year-old boy is just terrible. The poor wee thing."
As Alex Salmond, the first minister, said the discovery of the boy's body was "a
tragic development [that] we have all been dreading", it emerged that the
family's neighbours had arranged a memorial service at St Andrew's Muirhouse
parish church in Edinburgh. People laid teddy bears and floral tributes at the
Kirkcaldy bungalow as well as outside the Kular family home.
Hundreds of people attended the service less than a mile from Mikaeel's home on
Saturday night. Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir said recent events had
shattered the whole area, but also galvanised a sense of community spirit.
Mother of Mikaeel Kular charged in connection with death of three-year-old,
G,
18.1.2014,
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/18/
woman-arrested-charged-mikaeel-kular
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