Edinburgh couple on trial over son’s death in Spain

Corinna Reid, 35, and her former partner Robert Cormack, 40, face up to 14 years in jail if convicted of causing the death of Reid’s son Aiden. He died in January 2007 at the Paraiso Floral Hotel in the popular resort of Adeje. His death was originally blamed on bronchitis.

But Spanish detectives asked their Scottish counterparts to arrest his parents at their home in Edinburgh in January 2009 after toxicology tests showed traces of heroin substitute methadone and an antidepressant in his body.

Cormack did not oppose extradition and was sent back to Spain where he was remanded in custody.

Reid fought extradition but was sent back to Tenerife, despite telling Edinburgh Sheriff Court that Aiden’s father had confessed to leaving drugs around their hotel room within reach of their son.

She was freed on bail ahead of the start of the trial on Monday but told she must stay on the island.

Leaked documents later revealed Cormack, a former heroin addict, had told Spanish judges his son had ingested the drugs accidentally mixed up in a glass of orange juice.

Reid’s lawyer had been hoping to avoid going to court by securing a last-minute out-of-court deal, but the trial started without any agreement.

It was set to finish yesterday after three days of evidence but was unexpectedly postponed yesterday morning over a forensic evidence issue.

The nine-member jury set to decide the couple’s fate will now reconvene next Wednesday at Santa Cruz Provincial Court in Tenerife. Both Reid and her former partner are pleading not guilty to homicide.

Speaking yesterday outside court, Reid’s Madrid-based lawyer Christian Mesia said: “Neither Robert or Corinna should be on trial for homicide. Aiden’s death was the result of Robert’s negligence. It wasn’t intended. It was a tragic accident.

“They’re being tried on a homicide charge because of the stubbornness of the court and the state prosecutor.”

Cormack’s defence lawyer Mari Angeles Conde added: “My client had no intention of killing his son. This was an accident.”

Jurors are tasked with deciding whether the couple are guilty of homicide. As in Scottish law, the job of sentencing them if they are convicted will be left to a judge.

Speaking last month, Reid said: “I am not guilty. I thought my son had died of natural causes until Robert told me about the glass of juice after the results of the lab tests were known. It was a complete shock.

“This is all a nightmare. How can they want me to go to prison for 14 years for something I knew absolutely nothing about?”

Mr Mesia said: “The father claims he opened the boy’s mouth and saw that there was no trace of any of the liquid. But instead of calling a doctor or rushing the infant to hospital, he just cleaned up the mess and said nothing about the incident.

“The first Corinna heard about this was seven months later after the lab tests result came through. There is absolutely no evidence of any negligence or irresponsible behaviour on Corinna’s part.”