A woman charged in the beating of her 11-year-old son appeared briefly in court Saturday morning as he continues to fight for his life.

She faces three charges, including attempted murder, in connection with the Thursday night incident. The boy remains on life support in hospital.

Standing in a white knit sweater, the mother looked ahead the entire time, with no expression on her face. Her lawyer, Gordon Goldman, told reporters outside Old City Hall court that the woman was “calm.”

“Surprisingly she’s pretty calm, doesn’t seem too nervous. She’s not emotional. For what’s happened she’s OK,” he said.

The 32-year-old woman’s name is not being published to protect her son’s identity.

Emergency crews responded to a call from an apartment building on Eva Rd., near Bloor St. W. and Highway 427, at 1:10 a.m. Friday. They broke down the building’s front door to gain entry.

The boy was rushed to Sick Kids hospital where he remains on life support, according to police. Goldman said he had massive internal injuries.

“He’s got a lot of injuries to every part of his body,” he said. “Hemorrhaging, bruising all over, perforated intestine, perforated pancreas — they’re mainly in the stomach area.”

Police said earlier the boy suffered severe head injuries.

The woman has three other children. Two of them, aged 8 and 14, were removed by Children’s Aid. Goldman did not know what happened to the third, a 16-year-old boy.

The lawyer said his client wanted him to bring a crucifix to her son and asked about the boy constantly.

“She’s had no problems with the law whatsoever. There’s no history of mental illness or anything,” said Goldman, adding he knows the “tight-knit” family.

Catharine Antle lives on the same floor as the women and came home early Friday morning to see her neighbour standing in the hallway, along with police officers and paramedics.

“I noticed her standing there and at first I didn’t realize she was handcuffed — I thought she had gotten sick,” said Antle.

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She and the woman had been friendly in the past, saying hello in the elevator, but that night, as the woman stood in a bathrobe and handcuffs, she said nothing.

“I was looking at her trying to get an expression or a look, but there was absolutely nothing. There was no reaction, no emotion. She didn’t even look at me,” said Antle.

The woman is scheduled to appear next at College Park courthouse on Tuesday.