Mum, 37, stabbed son, 5, to death then killed herself before husband found them locked in bedroom
A MUM locked herself in a bedroom and stabbed her five-year-old son to death before killing herself, an inquest heard.
Yi Chen, 37, and her son Xingduan Yuan were found at home in Barnet, North London, by her husband.
He had returned from dropping their other son off at school when he made the tragic discovery on June 21 last year.
An inquest heard how Chen had been seeking psychiatric support for depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, migraines and insomnia before the killing.
Her husband Shuai Yuan told the hearing he was under the impression his wife’s condition had been improving.
He added: “From what I saw, I believed she was getting better but now I realise she was getting worse and chose to hide it from me.”
Yuan had received a message from his wife saying she did not want Xingduan going to school that day.
He dropped their other son off and returned home at 11.20am where he realised the boy didn’t have his school tie with him.
Yuan left the house again and dropped the tie off before going to pick up Chen’s medication.
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When he arrived back, the dad found the bedroom door was locked so use a hammer to force his way in.
He then discovered his wife dead on the bed and Xingduan nearby with a fatal injury to his neck.
Recalling a 999 call made by Yuan, DS Martin Slatterly, from Hendon Serious Crime Unit, told the hearing: “The caller said that his wife had killed herself and her son in the room.
“Mr Yuan was understandably incredibly distressed.”
Senior coroner Andrew Walker ruled Xingduan died by unlawful killing and Chen by suicide.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.