Mother cleared of infanticide

A 16-year-old mother accused of causing the death of her new-born baby boy by leaving him outside last winter has been cleared of infanticide after the prosecution dropped the charge.

Police were called in the early hours of 30 January last year following the discovery of the baby in New Eltham, southeast London.

London Ambulance Service attended, but the boy was pronounced dead.

The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named, appeared at the Old Bailey today (thurs) via video link supported by her aunt.

She denied infanticide and prosecutor Julian Evans, KC, said the Crown had decided to offer no evidence against her.

Mr Evans told the court: ‘The prosecution have as part of its duty kept the case under careful and ongoing review and in particular that has focused on the question of the public interest.

‘As part of that process and of that ongoing review the prosecution sought further information from the safeguarding team at the London Borough of Greenwich.

‘That team have been involved in providing expert care and assistance to [the teen] and their involvement and care date back some time and is ongoing.

‘That included a report from a clinical psychologist, her family and general circumstances and wider matters.

‘Given this is a charge that is not often before these courts, the prosecution certainly concluded it was important that the question of review was ongoing and further information was sought.’

Mr Evans said the support the teenager was already receiving was similar to what she would receive under a youth rehabilitation order after conviction.

He said there had been ‘positive and willing engagement’ from the teen and her family.

Defence barrister Stephen Nelson said: ‘The family are actively engaging and will continue to engage with all the support offered to them.

‘The court can be assured there will be an ongoing level of engagement into [the teen’s] adulthood.’

He said the girl and the family wanted to thank the Crown Prosecution Service for the manner in which they had dealt with the case.

Judge Richard Marks, KC, the Common Serjeant of London, directed a not guilty verdict be entered against the girl.

He told the girl’s aunt: ‘Thank you for the support you have given to [the teen]. This has been a very difficult and stressful chapter in her life and that of her family but hopefully things are back on track and with your support and others she will be able to turn a corner and put this matter behind her.

‘I wish her and all of you well.’

Infanticide is legally defined as when a woman, by any wilful act or omission, causes the death of her baby, but at the time the balance of her mind was disturbed by not having fully recovered from the effect of giving birth to the child or by the effect of lactation consequent upon the birth of the child.