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The husband of a woman accused of killing their two-year-old son stood by her in court on Thursday as she pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge.

Corie Walsh, 40, appeared briefly before a judge on September 24 during a preliminary hearing in the case involving the death of her son, Barrett Walsh.

Walsh appeared in a bright red jail uniform with her hair tied back during the roughly three-minute hearing. She stood beside her attorney, who told the court that the defence had subpoenaed her treatment records from the jail.

The records, attorney Andrea Lyon later said, were requested to determine whether Walsh was receiving the mental-health treatment she needs.

The defence is also seeking to have Walsh released before trial to a hospital for treatment, despite a judge rejecting an earlier request this month.

Walsh’s husband, Michael Walsh, sat in the public gallery during Thursday’s hearing alongside an elderly couple who appeared visibly emotional.

As Walsh was led from the courtroom after the hearing, she made eye contact with her husband.

Outside the courthouse, friends comforted Michael, with one supporter telling him, “She will get through this, she’s strong.”

Michael was later heard telling another supporter that he had been “packing up” the family home.

Speaking to reporters outside court, Lyon said Walsh’s family remained firmly behind her.

“Her whole family is here today — her husband, mother, mother’s best friend,” the attorney said.

“They love her and this is not — she’s never been violent… she was psychotic. They all know that and want her to get better. This is not who she is,” Lyon added.

According to court documents, Walsh’s two older children discovered Barrett with a rope around his neck and his feet off the ground in the basement of the family’s home in Frankfort, a suburb about 30 miles southwest of Chicago.

The children reportedly ran to a neighbour’s house for help.

The neighbour called 911 and attempted CPR on the toddler, but he had no pulse and was cold to the touch. Barrett was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy determined that the child, affectionately known as “Bear,” died from “asphyxia due to ligature compression of the neck,” according to court records.

Police later found Walsh fully clothed in a bathtub containing bloodied water. Investigators allege that she had attempted to kill herself by cutting her wrists and thighs with a dull kitchen knife.

Court documents further allege that Walsh confessed to killing her son and described him as the “anti-Christ” and “devil.”

The case has drawn particular attention because prosecutors allege Walsh had become intensely focused on the high-profile case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children.

Clancy’s defence argued that she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was legally insane when she fatally strangled her children with exercise bands. Her trial ended in a hung jury and mistrial.

According to Walsh’s defence team, she had discussed the Clancy case with neighbourhood friends shortly before Barrett was found.

During an earlier hearing, defence attorney Robert Kerr said Walsh had sent several “confusing” and “out of character” messages about the Clancy case.

Kerr told the court that Walsh had initially expressed one view about Clancy’s case before suddenly changing her position.

A witness reportedly described Walsh as abruptly saying that Clancy was “100% not guilty”, prompting friends to question whether she was okay and whether someone should check on her.

Walsh’s lawyers have argued that she was “severely mentally ill” and experiencing a psychotic episode when Barrett died.

The defence has also rejected suggestions that Walsh deliberately copied Clancy.

“Describing Corie to have copied Lindsay is to take an easy bait,” Kerr said during a previous hearing, according to a transcript.

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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has raised concerns about his personal safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying he is not certain he will be alive when Nigerians go to the polls.

Obi made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, where he discussed the political environment ahead of the election and called for a peaceful and democratic process.

The former Anambra State governor said he had been subjected to petitions and investigations in different places, adding that he remained uncertain about what could happen to him before the election.

“As I speak to you, I have also petitioned, I’ve been investigated everywhere. I still hear that I’m not even sure whether I’ll still be alive at the end of this,” Obi said.

He said he was relying on God for protection, while expressing uncertainty over the circumstances surrounding him.

“I’m praying to God for His protection because at this stage, I’m not sure what is happening,” he added.

Obi also appealed to political actors, particularly state governors, to create an environment where presidential candidates and other contestants can campaign freely ahead of the 2027 polls.

According to him, governors have the right to support candidates of their choice, but should not prevent candidates from opposing parties from carrying out their campaigns.

“Some of them will be campaigning for presidency tomorrow. They will be campaigning for other offices tomorrow. Let’s have peace,” he said.

The NDC candidate recalled his tenure as governor of Anambra State, saying he allowed politicians from other parties to campaign in the state, including those supporting candidates who were opposed to him.

Obi’s comments come amid increasing political activity and debate over the conduct and security of the 2027 elections. He has repeatedly called for a peaceful, credible and issue-based electoral process, while urging political actors to avoid actions that could undermine democratic participation.

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Francis-Xavier Sosu, Ghanaian member of parliament, collapsed on stage while delivering a speech.

Sosu was addressing students at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra on Thursday when he began to show signs of dizziness, according to video posted by Joy Online, a local media outlet.

Pausing his address, the lawmaker attempted to hold on to the podium but was unable to continue his speech or stand upright.

A man and a woman approached the podium from the side of the hall to assist the lawmaker, who later collapsed into their arms as they rushed him out of the building.

A statement issued by Ivan Dzakpasu, Sosu’s chief of staff, said the MP has received the necessary medical attention following the incident.

The statement did not provide details on the nature of the incident, the medical attention received or what may have caused the MP to become unwell.

The statement urged the public to remain calm and avoid relying on unverified reports or speculation about the lawmaker’s condition.