A mother killed her five-year-old son and then tried to take her own life after the 'challenges of caring for him' made her depressed, a court has heard.
Claire Button, 35, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her child Lincoln Button at their family home, but denies murdering him.
They were discovered at the house in Windstar Drive, South Ockendon, Essex, on December 15 by Button's husband and Lincoln's father, Nicky, when he came home from work.
Lincoln, who had been diagnosed with autism, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jurors at Basildon Crown Court were told during the murder trial that Button had been accused of smothering her little boy before placing a note beside his body which read: 'DNR - do not resuscitate.'
