Missing Scottish boy's mother charged with murder

The mother of three-year-old boy Mikaeel Kular, missing from Scotland's capital Edinburgh, was charged with his murder and will appear in court Monday.

Rosdeep Kular was charged with murder of her son, nearly 24 hours after the body of the toddler was formally identified, reported the Guardian.

His body was found behind a property in Kirkcaldy town, about 25 miles from Mikaeel's home, following a major search involving hundreds of volunteers.

The property in Kirkcaldy, reportedly belonging to Mikaeel's aunt where the child lived for a period of time before moving to Edinburgh with his mother, has been sealed off.

"Following formal identification, I can now confirm that a 33-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with Mikaeel's death," Malcolm Graham, assistant chief constable, Scotland police said. "The woman is expected to appear at Edinburgh sheriff court Monday."

Police had received 500 phone calls relating to the case, Graham said.

He said over 200 civilian volunteers joined the search for Mikaeel within the Pennywell, Muirhouse and Silverknowes areas of Edinburgh during adverse weather conditions and cold temperatures.

Olga Park, a neighbour living opposite where the body was discovered, said: "I'm just absolutely shocked about what's happened. The fact he's just a three-year-old boy is just terrible. The poor wee thing."

Mikaeel, who went missing mysteriously from his home Jan 15, was last reported to have been seen when his mother, Rosdeep, put him to bed at their flat at 9 p.m. Wednesday.