Mum's six chilling words to police after killing her six-year-old son

Karolina Zurawska killed Alexander

A woman who killed her six-year-old son after saying she'd heard voices in her head later told police 'I've killed my kid with cancer', a court heard.

Karolina Zurawska, originally from Poland, lived in a two-bedroom bungalow on the Gendros estate in Swansea, Wales, with her son, Alexander, and suffered from a profound mental illness likely to be paranoid schizophrenia.

She was 'in the grip of a psychological episode' at the time she killed her son, Swansea Crown Court heard on Friday.

Michael Jones KC, prosecuting, said neighbours opened the door of their home in Cwm Du after hearing screaming and saw Zurawska 'staring into space' 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, the court heard.

Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 8pm on August 29, 2024, and issued advanced life support to Alexander but he was pronounced dead at 9.45pm. Zurawska, 41, was arrested and made a number of confessions to PC Luke Tamplin and PC Kane Symonds of South Wales Police, the court heard.

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

The court heard 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. She explained that because of the 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 flee the house. Mr Siwi made repeated visits because he was worried for his daughter and his grandson, but did not tell neighbours or the police.

'I will carry this burden forever'

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."

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She has no previous convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, reports Wales Online.

Dr Mark Janas, a psychiatrist doctor, was asked to examine the defendant for the defence.

Following his findings from his examination of Zurawska in January, he told the court on Friday he was 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 and concluded that but for the mental illness, the incident would not have occurred.

John Hipkin, defending, submitted all three psychiatrists who examined the defendant were of the opinion she was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and the incidents would not have happened if she hadn't had the illness. All three, he said, were of the view that a hospital order was appropriate.

'You adored each other'

Judge Paul Thomas told Zurawska, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder 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. He 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."