Mikaeel Kular’s mother charged with murder

Rosdeep Kular, the mother of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular, has appeared in court charged with his murder.

Mikaeel was reported missing from his home in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh on Thursday morning.

Hundreds of volunteers from the local community joined police and specialist teams as they searched the surrounding area on Thursday and Friday.

Coastguards also scoured the shoreline a mile from his home.

Hundreds of calls were made to a dedicated phoneline set up in the wake of Mikaeel’s disappearance while floral tributes, soft toys and candles were placed at a small park near his home.

But in the early hours of Saturday Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham revealed the body of a young boy had been discovered in Fife and that a woman had been detained.

About 500 people turned out on Saturday night for a memorial service at Muirhouse St Andrew’s Church, less than a mile from the home Mikaeel shared with his twin sister and three other siblings.

Mikaeel’s mother, who is understood to be estranged from her husband, was formally arrested and charged in connection with her son’s death later on Saturday.

The 33-year-old was charged under her married name of Adekoya and appeared accused of murdering her son and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

She made no plea or declaration, was remanded in custody and committed for further examination.

Kular is expected to make a second appearance at the court on Tuesday January 28.