‘I’ve killed my kid with cancer’ Woman’s words to police after killing her six-year-old son

Karolina Zurawska killed her son Alexander while gripped by a mental illness which had overwhelmed her, likely as a result of the stress caused from dealing with his medical conditions, a court heard

A woman who killed her son after saying she’d heard voices in her head told police: “I’ve killed my kid with cancer.” Karolina Zurawska, originally from Poland and who had been living at a two-bedroom bungalow in the Gendros estate in Swansea with her son Alexander, suffered from profound mental illness likely to be paranoid schizophrenia and was having a medical episode when she killed six-year-old Alexander, Swansea Crown Court heard on Friday.

Michael Jones KC, prosecuting, explained that after hearing screaming and growing concerned neighbours opened the door to the home in Cwm Du and saw the defendant “staring into space” and standing beside her son while holding a blade or hand saw. Eyewitnesses saw the boy lying in a pool of blood with a deep cut to his neck.

Paramedics arrived first at the scene shortly after 8pm and issued advanced life support to Alexander but he was pronounced dead at 9.45pm. Zurawska was arrested and made a number of revelations to PC Luke Tamplin and PC Kane Symonds of South Wales Police.

She told them she now realised what she had done and she asked whether her father knew. She also asked whether Alexander’s father knew. The officers reported she was emotional and her voice was shaking.

She said: “I’ve killed my kid with cancer. He almost got through it. I can’t believe it.” Alexander had suffered with a brain tumour from a young age and had received chemotherapy. He had long-lasting issues as a result including a muscle issue which meant he sometimes walked with a cane.

His mother also told police that she’d been hearing voices in her head since the previous month. She explained that because of those voices she had believed she needed to hurt her father Krzysztof Siwi. She said she believed Mr Siwi should have called the police that morning.

The court heard Mr Siwi arrived at the property earlier in the day and was threatened with a blade multiple times by Zurawska leading to him fleeing the house. Mr Siwi made repeated visits to the house because he was worried for his daughter and his grandson, but he did not tell neighbours or the police.

Mr Siwi told the court in a statement on Friday: “August 29 was the day I lost two beloved people. Why it happened I’ll ask myself for the rest of my life and I know I won’t get the answer. The day before that event my daughter phoned me and nothing worried me. I never thought a loving mother would cause harm to her child. I was shocked. After Karolina assaulted me I was unable to think logically. Had I called the police this tragedy may never have happened. I blame myself a lot and will carry this burden for the rest of my life. Every day I encounter situations that remind me of the loss. I love my daughter and I do not blame her for what happened. I believe on that day she was unaware of what she was doing.”

The defendant was a woman of previously clean character with no previous convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. Dr Mark Janas, a psychiatrist doctor, was asked to examine the defendant for the defence counsel.

Following his findings from his examination of Zurawska in January he told the court on Friday that he is of the opinion that at the time her ability to form a rational judgement was impaired. He said she felt compelled to obey a demonic force in her mind. He concluded that but for the mental illness the incident would not have occurred.

John Hipkin, for the defence, submitted all three psychiatrists who examined the defendant are of the opinion she was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and that these incidents would not have happened if she didn’t have that illness. All three, he said, were of the view that a hospital order was appropriate.

Judge Paul Thomas told the defendant who had pleased guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility: “The often overused word ‘tragic’ doesn’t begin to reflect the awfulness of what happened that day to Alexander. Those who know you and know of your relationship with him described you as a devoted, loving caring mother. Your father described you as the best mother. Your relationship with Alexander was a warm and loving one on both sides. You adored each other.

“Unfortunately from birth he had major medical problems, in particular a tumour which had its own complications and which had a huge impact on his life. You devoted yourself to be his carer to provide him with everything he needed and you did so effectively as a single parent for the most part.

“The emotional stress on you in dealing with that must have been enormous. You also had and continue, it appears, to have a good close loving relationship with your father. On this dreadful day you hugged him and told you loved him very much before launching three attacks on him intending to kill him, as you have accepted by your guilty plea.

“There is strong and compelling evidence to suggest that day that you were acting in a strange and uncharacteristic manner. It is now known why you were acting in that way. The unanimous view of three very experienced psychiatrists is you were at the time in the grip of a psychological episode highly likely to be one of paranoid schizophrenia.

“It affected your mental health so greatly that it impaired your ability to understand what you were doing and to make any rational judgements. You are not a wicked mother. Far from it. You are a lady whose mental state deteriorated I suspect under overwhelming weight of care and concern for Alexander and you did something which never would have entered your mind had it not been for your severe illness that overwhelmed you.”

Judge Thomas issued an indefinite hospital order which Zurawska will have to serve until she is fit to be released. Judge Thomas said that day may never come. The judge concluded: “Alexander’s all too brief life was one he bravely battled against medical issues. It was a life filled with love received and given and I know those who knew him well will never forget him and will never stop loving him.”

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Davies said: “This was a tragic and deeply distressing incident which has had a profound effect on the whole community in Gendros, as well as the staff and pupils at Aleksander’s school. They will all have been devastated to hear of Aleksander’s death.

"The local community in Gendros were outstanding in terms of their support for our investigation at what was an extremely trying time. Our thoughts remain with Aleksander’s family and friends.”

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