8 MONTH OLD BABY KYLE MUTCH WAS STOMPED AND PUNCHED TO DEATH BY MOHAMMED ULLAH IN 2004

A jury in the Aberdeenshire town of Turriff has found a man guilty of killing his stepson. Mohammad Ullah, aged 25, was convicted following a ten-day court hearing at the High Court in Forfar.

Ullah had pleaded not guilty to the murder of eight-month-old Kyle Mutch in January, asserting that his mother-in-law, Marlane Low, was responsible for the child's death. She denied any involvement. The defendant now faces a life sentence, with sentencing scheduled later this month.

During the trial, a forensic expert described the severity of Kyle’s internal injuries, stating they were the worst seen in 25 years and resembled trauma typically caused by car accidents or assaults. The expert noted that such injuries are unusual in infants.

Concerning the charges, Ullah admitted to denying the acts that led to Kyle’s death in late January, and presented two primary defenses: first, that if a murder occurred, it was committed by Low; second, that he was with others at the Cafe Shomi in Turriff from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm on the day in question. Evidence suggested the injuries might have resulted from a punch or a stamp.

After the verdict, Detective Inspector Ian Birnie, who led the investigation, commented that Ullah's actions were precipitated by a momentary loss of control. He emphasized that the incident did not stem from prolonged neglect or abuse, describing it as a tragic, single-incident event. Birnie added that Ullah would likely regret his actions forever and called the verdict a conclusion to a distressing period for everyone involved.

Ullah had married Kyle's mother, Karen, less than three months before the child's death. Karen expressed her relief at the case’s conclusion, sharing her grief and the impact on her family. She mourned the loss of her son, describing her memories of him as the only joy she experienced during the seven months since his death. She also highlighted the void his absence has left in her other sons’ lives.

The prosecution’s case was summarized by Mark Stewart, who told the jury that Ullah had conducted a 'murderous attack' on Kyle. The night of the injury, Ullah was reportedly stressed by financial issues, and his wife was out at the time. The Crown suggested that Ullah's outburst was due to his inability to handle Kyle’s illness.

Marlane Low, who cared for Kyle on the evening of January 30, was a focal point of Ullah’s accusations, with Ullah claiming she might have assaulted Kyle out of frustration. During the proceedings, charges related to Ullah attempting to bribe his wife and assaulting another boy were dismissed, including an allegation that Ullah offered his wife £5,000 to falsely implicate her mother in Kyle's death.