Baby

A baby died shortly after birth and the child’s mother was tried for its infanticide, however, she was acquitted.

It was claimed that she had caused the death of her child by a wilful omission, that being, by wilfully neglecting or failing to provide or give any attention to the child at and immediately after birth, but at the time of the omission she had not fully recovered from the effect of giving birth and by reason thereof the balance of her mind was then disturbed.

Although she pleaded not guilty and was only convicted of endeavouring to conceal birth, it is not known whether that was because the jury could not decide whether the omission was wilful or whether they found that she was not guilty.

The mother was given a two year probation order.