Dead baby's mother loses extradition plea

Published on Thursday 25 June 2009 00:13

A WOMAN wanted in Spain over the drugs death of her toddler son has lost an appeal against her extradition.

But Corinna Reid may still avoid being sent to Tenerife for trial on a manslaughter charge because her partner, Robert Cormack is already in custody there and could be ready to negotiate a guilty plea.

The couple had gone to Tenerife with their son, Aiden, who was 16 months, for a break in January 2007.

The boy died suddenly and a post-mortem examination had suggested natural causes.

The body was released and Reid, 33, and Cormack, 38, returned home with it for burial.

Later, toxicology results showed Aiden had ingested methadone, the heroin substitute, and diazepam, a tranquilliser. Reid, of Gilmore Street, Edinburgh, said she had been devastated by her son's death, and felt sick and angry when she learned of the drugs in his system.

She explained that Cormack had been prescribed metha-done, and she needed to take tablets for a condition that affected her joints.

They had been scrupulous about keeping the drugs safely in a medicine cabinet at home, and were careful to put them out of reach in the hotel on holiday, she said.

However, they had to change rooms the night before Aiden died and were "a bit disorganised".

The Spanish authorities sought extradition of Reid and Cormack, and he agreed earlier this year to go back to Tenerife, where he was remanded in custody.

Lawyers for Reid opposed the request, but Sheriff Frank Crowe ruled at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that an order against her should be issued.

Reid challenged the ruling at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh. However, three judges refused the appeal.