Woman in court charged with murdering toddler son

A woman has been charged with the murder of her three-year-old son in the North.

Michelle Owen (aged 27) did not speak during a brief court appearance at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court today.

Brendan Owens was found at a house in the city near Belfast in July.

Ms Owens was accused by prosecutors of committing the murder on July 3.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective constable said he could connect her to the charge.

No application for bail was made and she was remanded in custody to reappear via video-link next month.

Owens, dark haired and slight, was surrounded by prison officers during her brief appearance and was dressed in blue trousers and sweater.

The boy was discovered at her Trinity Terrace home, close to the centre of Lisburn. A post-mortem examination has been carried out.

A man, aged 51, has been released on bail pending further inquiries.