A harrowing case has come to light at Birmingham Crown Court, where a 41-year-old woman from Erdington stands accused of attempting to murder a child in her care. Emma Jane Williams' testimony revealed a disturbing sequence of events, as she admitted to tampering with the boy's medication, but insisted she never intended to cause 'serious harm.'
During questioning on Tuesday, 20 July 2026, Williams claimed that she believed the boy would only experience an upset stomach and need to use the toilet after adding a substance to his medicine. However, this assertion is in stark contrast to the evidence presented by the prosecution – footage captured by a hidden camera shows Williams using a syringe to interfere with the child's medication in January 2026.
The court heard that Williams had conducted online searches, including one for 'the worst thing you could mix' with the boy's medication. Despite this research and her own admission of tampering, she denies the single count of attempted murder brought against her. When questioned by defence barrister Lewis Power KC about the severity of her actions, Williams described them as 'wicked', stating that she wants to 'put things right.'
The prosecution alleges that Williams was 'plotting the demise' of the boy and had interfered with his medication on multiple occasions. However, in a contradictory statement, Williams claimed she 'didn't know' who was responsible for any previous tampering before the camera was installed, insisting it 'wasn't her'.
Notably, when initially questioned by police about the incident, Williams lied to their inquiries, even after being shown the video evidence. She attributed this deception to being 'frightened', as she had never been arrested before. The trial continues, with the outcome hanging precariously in the balance.