The mother of a baby who died when he was thrown into a river by his dad told an inquest about her "beautiful boy".
Zakari William Bennett-Eko died aged 11-months-old when Zak Bennett-Eko threw him into the River Irwell in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, in September 2019.
Bennett-Eko, now 24, was found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in December 2020.
An inquest into the baby's death is underway at Rochdale Coroner's Court.
Senior coroner for Manchester North, Joanne Kearsley, heard how Zakari had been in the water for 45 minutes before being taken to Royal Bolton Hospital where he died.
The inquest heard how Bennett-Eko suffered from drug-induced psychosis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was on prescribed medication.
Between May and September 2019, he did not take any medication.
He then resumed taking it just before the tragedy, in which he took his son out in his pram and, in front of two witnesses, threw him into the river.
Zakari's mum, Emma Blood, said she and Bennett-Eko were very happy when their baby boy arrived weighing a healthy 7lbs 6oz in 2018.
Ms Blood said: "He was the most beautiful baby boy. We both fell in love with him.
"It was a really proud moment when we both registered the birth with our names on the certificate as his parents.
“The relationship was good at first and we spent a lot of time together, although I was aware he suffered from mental illness.
"He said that he suffered drug-induced psychosis and that he took medication, but that it was under control. I didn't understand what psychosis was, and he said he had ADHD. I didn't know that he also had schizophrenia."
After her baby was born, Ms Blood said a health visitor was engaged and they were aware of Bennett Eko's mental health issues.
He was then referred to social services for assessment to see if there was any further support needed, but they did not talk about his mental health.
When Zakari was three months old, Ms Blood found out she was pregnant again, this time with a girl.
She said Bennett-Eko was pleased, but by this time the behaviour of her partner was beginning to worry her.
He would go to the GP and get his prescription to get his medication but "he just didn't want to take it", she said.
In August 2019, she found out he had not even been picking up the medication, by which time she had decided she did not want them to be together anymore.
Ms Blood said: "He was acting strangely. He was always disappearing and causing problems within the family.
"He would act like he was depressed then he would be okay the next minute. It was like he was faking it
“It was just too much. He was going around slagging me off to everyone.
"I didn't like him anymore. He was just a horrible person. We argued about something and he slapped me."
Senior civilian police investigating officer Duncan Thorpe said when interviewed Bennett-Eko admitted throwing his son into the water.
He said: "He said he had been having mad thoughts.
"He demonstrated with his arms how he did it. He said the people were challenging him to 'carry out witchcraft'."
Pathologist Charlie Wilson said that the cause of Zakari's death was immersion in cold water.
The inquest continues.
