THE jury in the trial of a single mum accused of attempting to murder her severely disabled son have been told by the judge to put aside any prejudice on race, religion or cultural differences.

Pembe Mehmetaliogullari, 48, has denied the attempted murder of her ten-year-old son, Mustafa, known as ‘Musti’.

Mehmetaliogullari, of Kerrison Mews, Lower Market Street, Hove, also denies a charge of giving the boy a noxious substance.

The court has previously heard that Mehmetaliogullari and her husband adopted the boy following an arranged marriage in the Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus.

The baby had been found in a dustbin and at six months old was found to have severe medical conditions, later developing cerebral palsy, epilepsy and scoliosis.

He was brought back to Britain by his mother after she obtained a court order and signed a health disclaimer following the collapse of her marriage when her husband “refused to accept the boy”.

The judge in the case, Mrs Justice Justine Thornton DBE QC, told the jury it was important to put aside any religious prejudices and “any ideas you may have of assisted dying and ‘end of life care’”.

"You must try the defendant only on the evidence you have heard during this trial," she added.

The court has previously heard that ‘Musti’ died at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton on September 30, 2018 after he was admitted following an emergency 999 call made by his mother.

At the time of his death he was found to have traces of Citalopram and Codeine in his system.

In her evidence, Mehmetaliogullari repeatedly denied administering the drugs to her son.

In her closing speech, Miranda Moore QC, told the court: “This is a tragic case … but this mother tried to kill her son.”

She said there was a significant reason why the charge the defendant was facing was one of attempted murder and not murder.

“[This is because] he died with the drugs in him, not because of the drugs in him.”

In closing, Lewis Power QC, defending, told the jury the boy had been “living a purgatory on earth”.

He added: “Prejudice has no place in a criminal trial … [The defendant] is a Muslim, I’m a Roman Catholic. Religion is not important.

“[This case has] nothing to do with religious teaching and everything to do with a mother’s love for her son.”

The trial at Brighton Crown Court continues.

READ MORE: Mehmetaliogullari trial: single mum denies 'giving nature a helping hand'