A “devoted” mother found dead with her eight-year-old daughter had been depressed, lonely and frightened her child might be taken from her, an inquest heard.
Martina Karos, 42, and her severely disabled daughter, Eleni Edwards, were found at their home on South Radford Street, Salford, after police were called when the child failed to attend her special school on 23 September, 2024.
Karos’s best friend, Kirree Marsland told the inquest into their deaths at Bolton Coroners’ Court that Karos had said her life was not worth living.
She said Karos had always been a devoted, loving mother but she noticed her becoming “distant” emotionally from her daughter. The inquest was adjourned until Tuesday.
‘Rapid decline’
Marsland, who met Karos when they were both studying at Salford University, told the hearing: “She just kind of lost herself.
“I was concerned about her state of mind. I was concerned about Martina’s mental health, it seemed to be in rapid decline.
“She made reference to me about feeling that her life was not worth living and made reference to suicide, which is why I contacted social services.
“I didn’t think she would harm Eleni in any way. She absolutely loved her.”
She said her friend was unable to work, and socialising became difficult because of the demands of caring for her child, with Marsland describing her friend as “very socially isolated”.
Marsland told the inquest she had alerted social services in December 2023 about her concerns for Karos’s mental health.
A child protection plan was put in place by Salford City Council but Marsland said her friend did not feel “overly supported” and took it as a “punishment”.
Marsland said that although respite care was given to Eleni so her mother could have a break, the times when she was then available to socialise did not always coincide with that of her friends.
PA MediaThe inquest heard Karos was born in Lublin, Poland, and as a child moved to Italy with her family. She moved to England in 2003 and studied languages at university, working as a translator and interpreter.
After being told she could not have children, she became pregnant with Eleni and was “surprised and excited”.
The pregnancy was normal but six months or so after her daughter’s birth in June 2016, it became apparent Eleni was very severely disabled, unable to see or communicate verbally and with restricted mobility, the inquest was told.
‘Devoted mother’
Karos’s mother, Malgorzata Karos, told the inquest that despite Eleni’s complex needs, “she was the happiest girl in the world despite her disabilities”.
She added her daughter loved Eleni “day and night” and was a devoted mother.
But, a year before the deaths, she said, her daughter began to express concern.
Malgorzata Karos told the hearing: “Martina started saying she felt like a prisoner in her own home. She started talking about being lonely, lonesome.”
Though she had daily help, her daughter did not feel comfortable leaving Eleni with different carers, who frequently changed from day to day.
Malgorzata Karos said it was only after their deaths that she discovered her daughter had not been taking the medication she had been prescribed.
She said her daughter had told her she was concerned social services might take her daughter, adding: “I can’t live without Eleni.”