Hundreds of people have signed an online petition demanding that a mother who dumped her dead three-year-old son’s body in a suitcase in a Kirkcaldy garden is not released from prison.
Rosdeep Adekoya, 40, is currently serving an 11-year sentence at HMP Cornton Vale Prison after she admitted the culpable homicide of her son Mikaeel Kular back in 2014.
Thousands of people searched for Mikaeel when Adekoya reported him missing from their home in Drylaw, Edinburgh, when she had beaten him to death after he was ill following a family meal out.
It transpired she had stuffed her son’s body into a suitcase and drove to Kirkcaldy before trying to conceal it in woodland behind her sister’s home.
Reports have suggested Adekoya could be eligible for parole as early as next year, but a new change.org petition started by Kirkcaldy woman Rhian O’Neill has gained more than 600 supporters in a few days calling for that not to happen.
Adekoya, aged 34 at the time,was initially charged with murder but pled guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide and attempting to defeat the ends of justice when she appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Following a nationwide missing persons appeal, Mikaeel’s body was discovered two days later and Adekoya’s story quickly unravelled.
As detectives interviewed her for a third time, she was reported to have broken down and admitted what she had done and where she had put his body.
She told officers: “It was an accident and I panicked.
“I am going to go to jail.”
Passing sentence, the judge, Lord Glennie, told Adekoya that her actions had been “cruel and inexcusable”.
“Mikaeel was by all accounts a healthy, happy little boy. By your actions, however unintended, you have not only robbed Mikaeel of his young life but left a gaping hole in the lives of all who loved him.”
However, he also described Adekoya’s remorse as being “genuine and heartfelt”. “You are clearly an intelligent and articulate young woman,” he said.
Adekoya has been let out for study and work placements in recent years ahead of a scheduled parole hearing, although it is understood that will not happen until 2021 at the earliest.
The Scottish Prison Service and Parole Board declined to comment on Adekoya’s status.
