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Three-week-old baby fighting for life after mother and son stabbed

‘Doctors have been doing everything they can to save his life,’ says detective

Chiara Giordano
Thursday 03 October 2019 20:17 BST
General view of Portland Close, in Wallsend, North Tyneside.
General view of Portland Close, in Wallsend, North Tyneside. (Google)

A three-week-old baby is fighting for his life after he and his mother were stabbed at their home in North Tyneside.

The infant boy was rushed to hospital with his 21-year-old mother on Wednesday.

The woman is now in a serious but stable condition but her son is still in a critical condition.

Police were called to reports of an assault at an address in Portland Close, Wallsend, around 2.15pm on Wednesday.

A 27-year-old man, who is known to the victims, was arrested at the address on suspicion of attempted murder.

Denis Erdinch Beytula, 27, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of attempted murder on Thursday.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on 31 October.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Cole, of Northumbria Police, reassured the public it did not appear to be a random attack and there was no wider threat to the community.

He said: “This has been a very difficult investigation and I know the wider community are in shock.

“A mother and her child have been seriously injured but I know the community in Wallsend will rally around them at what is a devastating time for the family.

“Thankfully the condition of the mother has improved over night and, although she is still in a serious condition, she is awake and talking in hospital.

“Her son remains in a critical condition and I know that doctors have been doing everything they can to save his life.

“It has also been a very traumatic incident for those officers who responded to this call.

“Together with paramedics they have saved the woman’s life and give the baby a fighting chance in hospital.”

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Anyone with information is urged to contact police by calling 101, quoting log 539 02/10/19. To give information anonymously, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

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