A Moroccan mother allegedly told a relative ‘if only he would die’ before battering her three-month-old son to death, a court heard. 

Dounia Chetaouat, 32, and Algerian Abdelkader Essid, 44, are accused of killing their son Adam in North Finchley, London. 

Paramedics found the baby with multiple fractures to his skull consistent with being hit against a hard surface at the parents’ local authority flat on January 30. 

Essid, who called the emergency services, had recently returned from Algeria and sent £1,000 to a travel firm as Adam fought for his life, it is claimed. 

The child sadly died on February 17. 

It was heard at Inner London Crown Court that Chetaouat allegedly wrote a message to her brother reading: ‘He has really annoyed me. He is not asleep yet.’

While in another message she said: ‘Just hit the b****** and be done with it.’ 

The baby’s mother, who had overstayed her visa, appeared in court wearing a black fleece along with Essid, who wore a black and green checked shirt. Both defendants required an Arabic translator. 

The parents denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child between November 13, 2025, and February 18, 2026. 

Moroccan Dounia Chetaouat, 32, and Algerian Abdelkader Essid, 44, appeared at Inner London Crown Court (pictured) on Wednesday accused of killing their three-month-old son Adam

Chetaouat wept loudly throughout the hearing as their trial was fixed for February 1, 2027. There will be a further case management hearing on 27 July. 

Judge Michael Evans KC told the pair: ‘Your trial is fixed on 1 February next year.

‘I want to warn you that failing to provide a sufficiently detailed defence statement may count against you. If you fail to come to court when required that may be a separate offence.

‘At trial you have the right to give evidence. If you fail to attend your trial may proceed without you, in which case your advocates may withdraw, and the judge may inform the jury of the reason for that absence.’

Adam was found to have suffered catastrophic brain injuries after paramedics transported him to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He was unable to recover and doctors asked Chetaouat and Essid whether his life support could be turned off – but they refused. 

A High Court order had to be obtained to put an end to Adam’s suffering, and his condition worsened before he died on February 17. 

A pathologist found he had suffered multiple fractures to his skull, a broken rib and severe brain bleeding.

During a police interview, Chetaouat claimed she knew nothing about her son’s injuries. She said she had given Essid bottles to feed the baby and had heard him making a noise. 

When she went to see what the problem was, she said her son’s neck had turned yellow and his face had turned blue.

Essid suggested that the head injuries may have been caused when Adam was born.

He said he had only moved in with Chetaouat because the baby was ill and he claimed he had made her promise not to harm the baby.

Essid has leave to remain in the UK until 2027.

Chetaouat, of Kingsway, North Finchley, and Essid, of Clandon Gardens, Finchley, deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.