Keziah Macharia has been charged with killing her son Kobi Macharia Dooly
She appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday
The boy’s Irish family have paid tribute to the ‘dearly missed’ youngster
A four-year-old boy allegedly stabbed to death by his mother at a flat in London has been pictured for the first time as his heartbroken family paid tribute to the ‘dearly missed’ youngster.
Kobi Macharia Dooly was found with fatal knife injuries at an address on Montague Road in Dalston, Hackney, on Wednesday night.
His mother, Keziah Macharia, 41, of Montague Road, appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning charged with killing her son Kobi.
In a statement, the boy’s father Ben Dooly, who is originally from Tramore in south-east Ireland, and the rest of his family said: ‘The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken far too soon.’
Mr Dooly is reported to live in the UK, and his family have travelled from Ireland to be by his side following the events of Wednesday night.
In a statement this afternoon, the family said: ‘With heavy hearts we bid farewell to Kobi, you will be so dearly missed.
‘The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken from us far too soon. We will be thinking of you day and night for eternity till we meet you again.
‘The family would like to acknowledge and appreciate all messages of support. Please respect our family privacy at this very difficult time.’
Irish state broadcaster RTE reports that Mr Dooly’s extended family are well-known businesspeople, owning local takeaways and an amusement arcade.
Members of the family have travelled to the UK, reports the Irish Independent, which states that Kobi’s grandparents were met by Met Police liaison officers upon their arrival in London.
Ms Macharia will appear at the Old Bailey on December 28. She entered no plea during the short hearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday, and remains in custody ahead of her next appearance.
A special post-mortem is scheduled to take place on the same day, the Metropolitan Police said.
Police launched an investigation after they were called to an address in Montague Road at around 10.50pm on Wednesday December 20.
Officers say they were called to the address following what they called ‘concerns for the welfare of a child’.
Detectives say Kobi was found at an address on the street suffering from knife injuries.
Emergency services rushed him to hospital but he later died of his injuries, despite the best efforts of medics.
Neighbours had described Kobi as a ‘happy’ boy often seen playing on his scooter, and told reporters a woman had been seen being led away in pyjamas by police.
One local told the PA news agency a ‘loving family’ lived at the address, adding that officers had to force entry into a top floor flat on the street.
The resident, a 36-year-old hairdresser, said: added: ‘We often saw the boy playing on his scooter. He was happy and energetic.’
The Metropolitan Police previously said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: ‘We are working with our partners, including Hackney Council and the school community, to ensure support is there for people who need it.’ @Daily Mail.