Loving father referred to mental hospital for drowning disabled son

A court heard how deaf-mute social worker Andreas Milakovic's life became dominated by his son Yacob's disability and he sank into a deep depression as he struggled to cope with his painful fits.

On February 5 this year, Milakovic, 38, fed Yacob the medicine Calpol and red wine before drowning him in the bath at their home in Sheffield, the court heard.

A judge was told how the defendant then drank a litre of vodka and sat in a bath, expecting to drown himself.

But he was later found alive on a bed by his partner, Sharon Hirschman.

Today, Sheffield Crown Court heard how Milakovic told police: "I just wanted Yacob's suffering to stop. I didn't know what else to do."

He added: "I wanted him to go to sleep. I didn't want him to cry or shock. As a father I felt it was my duty to do something for my child.

"I couldn't watch these 20 to 30 fits at a time. It was awful."

The court heard how Milakovic was devoted to Yacob.

One nursery worker told police: "It was obvious Andreas loved Yacob. The look of joy and love on his face when he looked at him spoke volumes. Tears would roll down his face if he was having a fit."

Gary Burrell QC, prosecuting, told the court how Milakovic was Croatian-born but was brought up in Germany and had a series of problems once his deafness developed.

He met Ms Hirschman, who is also deaf, at Bristol University and they both worked for Rotherham Borough Council as social workers, specialising in helping people with disabilities.

Mr Burrell said Yacob was a "much loved and wanted child" but was diagnosed with West Syndrome in June 2006. This is a rare and serious form of epilepsy which left the youngster unable to sit up, hold his head up or swallow properly.

The condition also meant Yacob suffered painful fits. Later, Yacob's parents were told he was suffering from a rare degenerative brain illness which would "almost certainly have proved fatal in the long-run".

Mr Burrell said it was watching Yacob suffer his fits which pushed Milakovic into desperation and depression.

The court heard how two days before Milakovic killed his son, Yacob suffered 40 fits in one day.

By this time, the defendant had been given leave from his job and spent all his time looking after Yacob, not even going to the toilet in case he was not there for one of his fits.

The court also heard that Milakovic's own disability was a severe barrier to him getting help for his growing depression.

Mr Burrell told the judge how four days before he killed Yacob, Milakovic went out to buy jewellery for his partner and started to write a suicide note on his computer.

He also downloaded a series of pictures of his son onto a CD.

Mr Burrell told the court that when the defendant was in hospital after the boy's death, he told a doctor: "I'm glad I did it. He's not suffering anymore. He's in a better place.

"I only wish I'd done it in Holland. You know why that is don't you.

"It's unfair that I am going to get punished now for what is right."

He later told a psychiatrist: "(Yacob) gave me eye contact as if he were asking me to help."

Milakovic pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at a previous hearing.