A mother accused of murdering her three-year-old son has been remanded into custody with a provisional trial date fixed for next year.

Christina Robinson appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday morning by video link from HMP Low Newton in Durham.

The 28-year-old, of Bracken Court, Ushaw Moor, has been charged with the murder of Dwelaniyah Robinson.

Emergency services were called to house on Bracken Court on the afternoon of Saturday, November 5.

Dwelaniayah was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Ms Robinson also faces a charge of child neglect.

Read more: Neighbours in shock after death of boy, 3, in County Durham village

No application for bail was made and Recorder of Newcastle, Judge Paul Sloan, remanded her into custody.

He said: “I'm adjourning this case to a plea and trial preparation hearing on December 13 and you will be linked in on that date as you have been today.

"I've fixed a trial date, if a trial is necessary, for April 19 next year.

"I do stress if you have committed any offence or offences arising out of these allegations, the sooner you tell the court, the better for you, the more credit you will receive, the less severe the punishment will be.

"The longer you leave it to tell the court if you have committed any offence, the worse it will be for you, the more severe the punishment will be."

In response, Ms Robinson said: “I understand.”

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