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Mother Suffocated Son Before Taking Her Own Life, Inquest Finds
The coroner accepted police and digital evidence showing Tasmin Paterson killed Hudson before taking her own life, after a relationship breakdown and financial strain.
On Monday, Senior Coroner Andrew Cox concluded that Tasmin Paterson unlawfully killed her nine-year-old son, Hudson Paterson, before dying by suicide at their Fletchersbridge home in September 2024.
Paterson's relationship with partner Marcus Hughes had become 'fraught' after she discovered he was using a dating site, while mounting health, financial, and housing pressures compounded the strain.
Hughes forced entry into the locked bedroom on Saturday morning after receiving no response; police investigation confirmed Hudson died of asphyxiation before his mother, with no evidence of third-party involvement.
Aaron Paterson, Hudson's father, described his former wife as a 'doting' mother, noting their separation was 'amicable' and that he never suspected she would harm their son.
Digital evidence revealed Paterson had deleted personal accounts and planned a joint funeral before her death; for those struggling, Samaritans can be reached free on 116 123.