THE mother of a toddler found face-down in a bath at their home admits she lied about her drug-taking, but denies the substances were responsible for his drowning.
Kerry Abel, 38, has told a jury at Sheffield Crown Court that she became dizzy and fainted as she stood up while bathing her two-year-old son, Riley Lewis.
Miss Abel says she came round a couple of hours later and found Riley face-down in the water at their home in Orchard Park Road, north Hull, on January 4 last year.
He had drowned and was pronounced dead at Hull Royal Infirmary at 12.37am the following day.
Miss Abel was initially arrested at the hospital on suspicion of his murder, but was charged with manslaughter on November 29.
She could not explain why she had collapsed, but insisted it was not due to the drugs she had consumed.
Miss Abel gave evidence before the jury of eight women and four men and was the only witness called by Benjamin Nolan QC, defending, yesterday.
She told the court she had been dependent on drugs for almost 20 years and explained that she received illicit painkillers from a friend to help with backache and regular tooth abscesses.
Miss Abel, a former heroin addict, admitted after Riley's death that she had recently taken three drugs – the heroin substitute methadone, which was prescribed by her doctor, tramadol and a painkiller.
Blood and urine tests showed she had taken six more – diazepam, temazepam, nitrazepam, heroin, cocaine and cannabis. The pain- killer was found to be pregabalin.
Under cross examination from prosecutor Richard Wright QC, Miss Abel admitted telling lies to police about her drug-taking.
She also admitted she knew the dangers of looking after a child while under the influence of drugs.
She admitted she took pregabalin just after midnight on the day Riley died and also said she took heroin, cannabis and cocaine in the days before her son's death, rather than two weeks previously, which she had initially claimed.
In police interviews she was unclear which drugs she had taken and omitted to say she had taken diazepam.
Miss Abel said: "I accept I told the police lies about the drugs I had taken. But I was frightened as I had been accused of murdering my own son.
"I told the police I had taken cocaine and heroin two weeks before because I felt under pressure.
"I was confused, but what I am saying in court is the truth."
Mr Wright put it to Miss Abel that she took the drugs, knowing what effect they would have.
He said: "It is not true you took the cocktail of drugs to get an effect, namely, to make you sleep?"
Miss Abel adamantly denied this was the case.
The jury also heard that Miss Abel had not intended to give Riley a bath, but only turned on the taps to steam the bathroom to help with his cold.
She said: "Riley really liked his baths and while I steamed the bathroom he kept asking for one.
"I hadn't intended to bathe him, but I gave him one. I put in some cold water and put him in."
Miss Abel said after playing with Riley, she stood up, felt faint and tried to grab the bathroom door.
She claims the next thing she knew, she was in a daze and found Riley face-down in the bath.
Miss Abel said she scooped him up and called for her partner, Andrew Lewis.
She tried to resuscitate him while Mr Lewis called the emergency services.
Despite the efforts of paramedics and hospital staff, the toddler died.
The trial continues.
