Ex-wife of celebrity photographer Dean Freeman admits to killing son with disabilities
The ex-wife of celebrity photographer Dean Freeman has admitted to killing their son, who had been diagnosed with autism and several other disabilities.
Olga Freeman on Monday pleaded guilty in British court to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in the death of her 10-year-old son Dylan, according to the Metropolitan Police. Authorities found the young boy unresponsive and surrounded with toys on his mother’s bed on August 17.
Earlier in the day, Freeman showed up at the Acton Police Station and told authorities she’d given her son some pills and then forced a sponge into his mouth. Officers pronounced the boy dead shortly after they arrived at Freeman’s West London residence.
Dylan, who required round-the-clock care, had been diagnosed with autism, global neurodevelopmental delay, progressive myopia and significant difficulties with language and communication, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. Officials said his mother had been his primary caretaker for years, which put strain on her already diminishing mental health.
His father, 57-year-old Dean Freeman, is well-known for photographing celebrities, including the Spice Girls, and soccer player David Beckham, People reported.
“This was a tragic death of a child at the hands of his mother, who was struggling to cope,” said Kristen Katsouris, with the Crown Prosecution Service.
“Olga Freeman had loved and cared for Dylan for many years but the strain and pressures of her son’s severe and complex special needs had built up and that, combined with her impaired mental health, led to heartbreaking consequences.”
In the week leading up to Dylan’s death, Freeman insisted she was the Messiah and that she needed to save the world.
“In a voice recording she said: ‘This is my job: to sacrifice my beloved child to create a balance in this world,’” according to a press release from CPS.
Prosecutor Gareth Patterson told the court that the manslaughter plea was acceptable given Freeman’s state of mind.
“The partial defense of diminished responsibility is available to the defendant on the basis there was a severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms at the time,” he said.
In a statement released after his son’s death, the Dean Freeman said he could not “begin to comprehend his loss.”
“Dylan was a beautiful, bright, inquisitive and artistic child who loved to travel, visit art galleries and swim,” the photographer said, according to the Independent.
“We traveled extensively over the years together, spending such memorable time in places including Brazil, France and Spain. I can’t begin to comprehend his loss.”
