ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A woman acknowledged she fatally stabbed her 7-year-old son and pleaded guilty by reason of mental disease or defect at a New York superior court.
The unusual plea entered by Hanane Mouhib (hah-NEEN’ moo-HEEB’) in Rochester on Wednesday means that prosecutors agreed a defense of insanity would prevail if the case went to trial, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported.
Mouhib, 38, stabbed her son Abraham Cardenas on April 5, 2018 while other family members were in their home. Mouhib stabbed the boy in the upper back then cut his neck, severing his head.
The Monroe County District Attorney’s office commissioned an independent psychiatric evaluation that found Mouhib “was experiencing ongoing symptoms of mental illness and that she was unable to substantially appreciate the wrongfulness of her conduct,” the newspaper reported.
“While dispositions of this type are rare, today’s proceeding was the most appropriate outcome that the criminal justice system could offer. Our deepest thoughts remain with the family of both Abraham Cardenas and Hanane Mouhib,” said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.
In the month before she wielded a knife against her son, Mouhib had called the sheriff’s office seeking assistance with mental health problems. She had been admitted to a hospital from March 8 and March 26 for mental health treatment.
Mouhib has been in custody since her arrest and will be evaluated by the state’s Department of Mental Health to determine where she will be placed and treated, the newspaper reported. She will return to court on Nov. 9.
