Ibthihaal murder trial scheduled for October 22 after 8-month hiatus

The murder trial of toddler Mohamed Ibthihaal has been scheduled for Monday, October 22, after an eight-month hiatus.

Three-year-old Ibthihaal was found beaten to death in his house in V. Rakeedhoo on January 28, 2015. Ibthihaal’s mother, Afiya Mohamed stands accused of her son’s murder.

Afiya said during the trial that she had physically abused Ibthihaal since the day he was sent from her mother’s to live with her. She said she had resented Ibthihaal because of the circumstances surrounding his birth. Ibthihaal had been born out of wedlock.

The court was hearing witness testimony when it went on the eight-month hiatus. The last hearing in the case was held on March 2, 2017, in which the court heard testimony from a pedestrian who examined Ibthihaal’s body.

Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital’s pediatrician Dr. Abbas Abdul Hameed testified that Ibthihaal’s body showed signs of abuse rendered over a long period of time. He said Ibthihaal had multiple injuries on his body, including major injuries to his mouth with the skin on the inside of his mouth torn open.

He detailed that Ibthihaal had fractured rib bones, swelling on his privates, and showed signs of strangulation and had claw marks on his body.