A father has admitted killing his one-year-old son and trying to murder another young child in a Finsbury Park flat.

Bidhya Sagar Das, 33, attacked the toddlers with a hammer at a flat in Wilberforce Road on the evening of Saturday March 18.

The boy, Gabriel Bibekdas Sonu, died in the early hours of the following morning, while a girl – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – was left fighting for her life.

Das, of Finsbury Park, was due to face trial next month for murder and attempted murder.

But at a brief hearing, he pleaded guilty to Gabriel’s manslaughter by diminished responsibility and the attempted murder of the other child.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones said that in light of psychiatric reports, the pleas were accepted.

Mr Justice Spencer said options include a discretionary life sentence, a hospital order with indefinite restrictions, or a hybrid order.

The senior judge, sitting at the Old Bailey, asked for an update on the condition of the surviving child before the next hearing.

He told the defendant: “Your case is going to be adjourned now for sentence on Thursday October 12. Until then you will be remanded in custody. You will go back to hospital as before.”

Das, who was helped by a Bengali interpreter, gave away no emotion as he sat in the dock.