THE Alva mother charged with murdering her five-year-old son last December has been ruled unfit to stand trial.

Farai Chiriseri (32) made her first public appearance in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday (Tuesday) following extensive mental health assessment.

She was alleged to have murdered Scott Chiriseri at their family home on Carnaughton Place on 5 December.

However, the presiding judge Lord Burns accepted she was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and ordered she be detained in hospital.

The court heard that Zimbabwean-born Chiriseri believed she was on a 'special mission from God’ when she repeatedly struck the Alva Primary School pupil on the head, neck and body with knives.

Her defence agent Gary Allan QC lodged a special defence that she was unable to 'appreciate the nature and wrongfulness’ of what happened due to her state of mind.

Chiriseri was then examined on a number of occasions by doctors including leading consultant psychiatrist Dr John Crichton.

Prosecutor Bruce Erroch then told the hearing: “The Crown...accept the application of the special defence in this case.” As a result, Lord Burns formally acquitted Chiriseri before imposing a compulsion and restriction order without limit of time.

Chiriseri will remain at the medium-security Orchard Clinic at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital for treatment.

The mum – wearing thick black-rimmed glasses and a long coat – showed no emotion as she was later escorted from the dock.

Scott’s father Tichakunda Chiriseri was at the hearing, but was not available for comment afterwards.

At the time, police said that youngster Scott had suffered 'a significant injury’ before his mum was detained under the Mental Health Act.

Dr Crichton — also based at the Orchard Clinic — was called to give evidence at yesterday’s hearing after compiling a number of reports on Chiriseri.

He noted she had a 'schizophreniform psychotic illness’ consisting of delusions and hallucinations and added that Chiriseri believed she was on 'special mission from God’ at the time.

He further remarked Chiriseri’s conversations involved 'abnormal religious content’.

Asked by prosecutor Mr Erroch if Chiriseri was 'continuing to make a good recovery’ from her illness, Dr Crichton agreed she was.

However, the psychiatrist said the case involved an act of homicide with 'particularly disturbing features’ and added that Chiriseri would need supervision for the foreseeable future.

Following the High Court hearing, a Crown Office spokesperson said a murder charge had been brought before medical opinion was sought into Chiriseri’s state of mind.

The statement added: “The unanimous opinion of the expert reports concluded that the accused was insane at the time of the incident - therefore could not, in law, be found to be responsible for her actions.

“We have therefore accepted that she was incapable by reason of mental illness of appreciating the nature or wrongfulness of her actions.

“The Crown is satisfied that the public will be protected by her detention in a secure hospital.

“The family of Scott Chiriseri have been kept informed of developments throughout the case.”