Father, 23, who killed his 11-month-old baby son by throwing him into a river claims insanity 

An 11-month-old boy died after he was thrown into a river by his father, a court has heard.

Baby Zakari Bennett-Eko was rescued from the River Irwell in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on September 11 last year by emergency services but later pronounced dead at hospital, a jury at a Nightingale court sitting at The Lowry theatre in Salford heard on Monday.

His father Zak Bennett-Eko, 23, denies his murder and was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the incident, the court heard.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, said: ‘At 4.20 in the afternoon of Wednesday September 11 2019 in Radcliffe, north Manchester, Zak Bennett-Eko, then 22 years old, threw his 11-month-old son Zakari into the River Irwell.

Zakari William Bennett-Eko died after being found in the River Irwell in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on September 11 last year

‘There is no dispute that at the time Mr Bennett-Eko was suffering from mental illness.

‘The act was observed by members of the public who quickly raised the alarm, however due to the inaccessibility of the river and strength of the current it was about an hour before the emergency services were able to rescue Zakari, by which time his heart had stopped and he was very cold.’

He said Zakari was pronounced dead at the Royal Bolton Hospital at 6.55pm. 

Mr Hall added: ‘The prosecution case is simply that the defendant, Mr Bennett-Eko, is guilty of manslaughter by reason of his responsibility being diminished by his mental illness.’

His father, Zak Bennett-Eko, 23, appeared at the temporary Nightingale court at Salford's Lowry Theatre via videolink this morning to plead not guilty to a charge of murder

His father, Zak Bennett-Eko, 23, appeared at the temporary Nightingale court at Salford’s Lowry Theatre via videolink this morning to plead not guilty to a charge of murder

The prosecution has accepted Bennett-Eko’s plea of not guilty, the jury was informed.

‘The defence case is that Mr Bennett-Eko is not guilty by reason of insanity from his mental illness, although the defence accept that in the alternative he is guilty of manslaughter by reason of his responsibility being diminished by mental illness,’ Mr Hall said. 

He said the prosecution did not seek a conviction on the charge of murder. 

Instead, the count of murder serves as a ‘legal gateway’ towards either a conviction for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility or an acquittal on the grounds of insanity.

‘The defence case is that Mr Bennett-Eko is not guilty by reason of insanity from his mental illness, although the defence accept that in the alternative he is guilty of manslaughter by reason of his responsibility being diminished by mental illness.’ 

Judge Mr Justice Fraser told the seven women and five men on the jury they would hear evidence from experts about the defendant’s mental health.

He said: ‘You must go on to decide whether, as a result of the disease of the mind from which the defendant was suffering at that time, it is more likely than not that either, a, he did not know what he was doing when he threw his son into the river or, b, he did not know what he was doing was wrong by the standards of reasonable, ordinary people.’

The court was told Bennett-Eko, of no fixed address, was not present in court because he was too unwell to attend. 

Zakari William Bennett-Eko, who died in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on September 11, 2019, aged 11 months, pictured with his mum Emma Blood

Zakari William Bennett-Eko, who died in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on September 11, 2019, aged 11 months, pictured with his mum Emma Blood 

The judge said the jury may be the only one in the country to hear such a trial in one of the Nightingale courts, set up to deal with a backlog of cases caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: ‘It is a bit unusual to be sitting in a theatre and looking at a judge who is sitting on what would be a stage.

‘This building is, for all intents and purposes, for this trial, a crown court.

‘It is as serious business as conducted in any crown court and the fact it is a theatre is not going to change the trial process at all.’

The trial, which is expected to last five to seven days, was adjourned until Tuesday when the prosecution will open the case.    

Zakari’s death led to an outpouring of sadness from friends and neighbours who left piles of flowers, cards and other tributes in Radcliffe town centre.

In a moving tribute last September, Zakari’s mum, Emma Blood, said: ‘On Wednesday afternoon my life changed forever.

‘I woke up that morning being a mummy to the most wonderful cute little boy and by the afternoon Zakari was taken from me in the most tragic of circumstances.

‘Zakari was my life for 11 months and will be the heart of our family for many years to come.

‘He was a cheeky little chappie with a smile that melted hearts. He was the youngest of 5 generations of our family and was loved beyond belief.

‘Zakari wrapped everyone around his little finger.

‘He was a happy and content baby with a gorgeous little smile and a head full of curls. Everyone that met him fell in love with him instantly.

‘It’s hard to comprehend what has happened and that I will not get to see my baby grow up to be the handsome decent man I knew he would become.

‘My family and I would like to thank everybody for their continued support, it is very much appreciated and would like to ask for privacy at his traumatic time.’

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