A mother from Loughton, Essex, has been found guilty of murdering her 14-month-old son by giving him a fatal overdose of drugs. Emma Barnett, 36, was convicted on May 29, 2026, following a trial at the Old Bailey.
The court heard that Barnett fed Oakley a mixture of drugs, including methadone and morphine, before he was due to be taken into care. The boy was found dead in the family home on July 11, 2025, after Barnett had hidden with him in the loft.
Prosecutors said Barnett's actions were a 'calculated' attempt to prevent Oakley from being placed in foster care. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a unanimous guilty verdict.
Barnett showed no emotion as the verdict was read. She will be sentenced at a later date. The case has drawn widespread attention to child protection issues in the UK.
