Accused tells court she did tamper with boy's meds

A woman accused of attempting to murder a child has admitted tampering with his medicine but said she "did not intend to cause him any serious harm".

Emma Jane Williams, from Erdington, was arrested in January after a hidden camera recording showed her using a syringe to add a substance to the boy's medication.

Giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, Williams said she thought "he might get [an] iffy tummy and need to go to the toilet" but denied having any intention to cause him permanent harm or death.

The 41-year-old also admitted to making Google searches, including one for "the worst thing you could mix" with the boy's medicine. She denies a single count of attempted murder.

The boy cannot be identified due to a court order.

Answering questions from defence barrister Lewis Power KC, Williams accepted what she did was a "wicked" act: "That's why I am here now, because I want to put things right."

The jury also heard that she lied to police when she was arrested, even when confronted with the video footage, and said she was "frightened" having never been arrested before.

The Crown alleges that Williams "was plotting the demise" of the boy, interfering with medication on a number of occasions.

In court, Williams said she "didn't know" who had tampered with the medicine on previous occasions before the camera was installed, adding that it "wasn't her".

The trial continues.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.