03/12/2008

Woman Arrested After Son's Body Found

A mother who was arrested after the body of her son was discovered at a house in Kent, is in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital, according to police.

Officers found the body of James Taylor, 11, early on Tuesday morning at the property in the New Ash Green village, near Dartford in Kent after they were called to the house.

Police have cordoned off the area while forensic officers searched the property.

A Kent spokesman said the boy's death was being treated as "suspicious", and they are not seeking anyone else in relation with the incident.

Ch Insp Gill Ellis said: "Emergency services were called to an address in Knight's Croft at 5.30am yesterday, where the body of a young boy was discovered.

"A woman has been arrested and is in hospital in a critical but stable condition. There is an investigation ongoing."

She added: "We are doing house-to-house inquiries, but we are not doing a witness appeal and are not looking for anybody else in connection with this death.

"Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the young boy. Clearly this is a really tragic loss of life."

James was a pupil at Wilmington Grammar School for Boys. Head teacher Fiona Cottam released a statement to parents, which read: “It is with immense sadness that I write to inform you of the tragic death of one our year seven students.

"He was a new pupil to the school. He had just started in year seven but he had settled in well, was making new friends, and was showing great academic promise."

The statement continued: "As a whole, the school community will mourn his loss in the weeks and months ahead."

(JM)

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