Four people accused of murdering newborn baby to go on trial next yearThe defendants, who are all Slovakian nationals, are charged with the murder of a newborn named only as Baby S.Flowers left at the scene in Holywell Heights, Sheffield, after four people appeared in court charged with murder after a newborn baby girl, named only as Baby S, was found dead with 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings (Dave Higgens/PA)PA WireDave Higgens2 minutes ago
Four people accused of murdering a newborn girl who suffered 33 wounds in 15 separate stabbings will go on trial next year, a judge has ruled.
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The baby’s mother, Andrea Skopova, 20, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday with Peter Horvath Jnr, 19, Peter Horvath Snr, 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37.
The defendants, who are all Slovakian nationals, are charged with the murder of a newborn named only as Baby S.
Earlier this week a court was told that the baby’s body was found on top of a washing machine in an outhouse at an address in the Wincobank area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on Sunday.
Horvath Jnr, Horvath Snr and Horvathova, all of Holywell Heights, and Skopova, of Robey Street, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield, are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice by cleaning the scene of the alleged crime.
The scene in Holywell Heights (Dave Higgens/PA)PA Wire
A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named, also appeared at the same hearing on Thursday charged with the same perverting the course of justice offence.
All five defendants sat in the glass-fronted dock, watched by 26 members of their family from the public gallery balcony above.
They were flanked by seven security guards and other staff, and two Slovak interpreters.
Skopova and the 15-year-old girl sobbed throughout the hearing.
Some people in the gallery were also in tears, and one woman cried uncontrollably as the defendants left the dock, leading the judge to order the public seating to be cleared.
Judge Sarah Wright fixed a trial date for April 12 next year, saying it was expected to last six to seven weeks.
Judge Wright remanded all the defendants in custody and fixed the next hearing for October 2.
On Wednesday, prosecutor Luke Hopkinson told Sheffield Magistrates Court that Skopova was the baby’s mother.
The father is unknown, Mr Hopkinson said.
Skopova is the girlfriend of the defendant Horvath Jnr, who is the son of the other two adult defendants.
Mr Hopkinson said Horvath Jnr was not believed to be the father.
Baby S was found wrapped in a towel and in a blue bag in an outbuilding at an address in Holywell Heights.
Mr Hopkinson said she had suffered 33 wounds from 15 “separate stabbings”.
The prosecutor said she suffered wounds to her “face and torso – front and back”.
Two women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail.
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