SATPAL KAUR KILLS AUTISTIC BOY IN BARKING WITH BLEACH IN TRAGIC CASE

In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded in Barking, east London, a mother named Satpal Kaur was convicted of the tragic death of her 12-year-old autistic son, Ajit Singh-Mahal. The young boy was found lifeless at their family residence in Barking in February 2011, a scene that shocked the local community and prompted a thorough investigation.

Satpal Kaur, aged 44, admitted to the court that she was responsible for her son's death, pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. She had initially denied the charge of murder but later accepted her role in the tragic event. On the day of the incident, Kaur also ingested bleach herself, an act that underscored her deteriorating mental state. Her actions led to her being sentenced to seven years in prison at the Old Bailey, the central criminal court in London.

During the sentencing, Judge Peter Beaumont, the Recorder of London, acknowledged the difficulties involved in caring for Ajit. He remarked, “I recognise how difficult Ajit was to care for. Your deteriorating mental health robbed you of proper insight into what was going wrong and erected real obstacles between you and people and the agencies that were trying so hard to help you.” The judge further stated, “You faced the prospect of Ajit being taken away from you, but you killed him. You were, in my judgment, making a statement, without any consideration of his interests.”

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC described the case as one of profound tragedy. He explained that Ajit was entirely dependent on his mother for all his needs, unable to speak, which made communication difficult, and struggled with mobility outdoors. The child was killed with Domestos, a household bleach product, just hours after Kaur-Singh refused to cooperate with council staff during a meeting concerning his care. When emergency services arrived, they found Ajit lying on a sofa, unresponsive, with no pulse. He exhibited corrosive burn marks around his mouth, chin, and neck, consistent with ingesting bleach.

Paramedics treated Kaur-Singh with charcoal and milk to counteract the effects of the bleach she had consumed. During her treatment, she confided to a paramedic that she had been contemplating “doing this” for years. The court heard that social workers from Barking and Dagenham Council had expressed concerns about Singh in the months leading up to the tragedy. Despite appearing calm during a meeting with council staff, she later called emergency services to confess, saying, “I’ve just murdered my son and I’ve tried to kill myself.”

A spokesperson for Barking and Dagenham Council expressed their condolences, stating, “Barking and Dagenham Council’s thoughts, first and foremost, continue to be with the Singh family. The council contributed to an independent serious case review to look into all details of this case and to address lessons arising. The Barking and Dagenham safeguarding children board will publish the findings of that independent review in due course.”

Defence lawyer David Hislop QC argued that Kaur was motivated by her love for her son, asserting, “This was a woman who loved her son too much. The belief she held, because of her mental disorder, was that hers was an act of mercy.” The case highlights the tragic consequences of mental health struggles intertwined with complex family dynamics, leaving a community in mourning and officials seeking to learn from this devastating event.