Mother And Father Charged With Murder Of Their Three-Month-Old Son After Baby Died In Hospital Weeks After Being Found Unresponsive At North Finchley Home

A mother and father are due in court today charged with the murder of their infant son, weeks after the three-month-old was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following an emergency call to the family’s North Finchley address.
Police and the London Ambulance Service were called to a property on Kingsway on the morning of Friday 30 January after reports of an unresponsive baby boy. Paramedics carried out emergency first aid at the scene before the infant, referred to throughout the investigation as Baby A, was taken to hospital with significant injuries.
Both parents were arrested the same day on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm. They were subsequently charged on Monday 2 February with causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child and appeared at Ealing Magistrates’ Court, where they were remanded into custody.
Despite the efforts of medical teams over the following weeks, Baby A died in hospital on Tuesday 17 February. A post-mortem examination is yet to take place. Following his death, both parents were charged on 18 February with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
The pair are named as Dounia Chetaouat, 32, of Kingsway, North Finchley, and Abdelkader Essid, 44, of Clandon Gardens, Finchley. They are expected to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, Monday 23 February.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and are asking anyone who may be able to assist the investigation to call 101 or contact the Metropolitan Police via @MetCC on X, quoting reference CAD 2297/31JAN. Those wishing to pass on information anonymously can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​