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A mother allegedly killed her autistic son after the "challenges of caring" for him led to her becoming depressed, a court has been told.

Claire Button, 35, stands accused of murdering five-year-old Lincoln Brookes at their family home in South Ockendon last December.

Emergency services rushed to Windstar Drive in the south Essex town on December 15 after Mrs Button's husband, Nicky, returned from work to discover his son and his wife, who had attempted to take her own life.

Sadly Lincoln was declared dead at the scene.

Jurors heard that Mrs Button, who denies murder, had previously admitted to manslaughter, reports Essex Live .

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Jurors were told that Mrs Button, who de

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