Four Slovakian nationals charged with murder of stabbed Sheffield baby

Four people appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court charged with murdering a newborn girl found with 33 stab wounds. A fifth defendant, aged 15, faces a perverting justice charge.

Four charged with murder of newborn stabbed 15 times in Sheffield home

Four Slovakian nationals appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with the murder of a newborn baby girl, BBC News reports. The infant, referred to in court as Baby S, was found at a property on Holywell Heights in the Wincobank area of Sheffield on Sunday bearing 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings.

The defendants named in court were Andrea Skopova, 20, formerly of Robey Street, Sheffield; Peter Horvath, 19; Nina Horvathova, 37; and Peter Horvath, 38 — the latter three all residing at the Holywell Heights address. All four face charges of murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice by taking steps to conceal the infant's killing.

A fifth defendant, a 15-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared before the court and was charged with perverting the course of justice. All five were remanded in custody and are due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday.

The court heard that the baby's body was discovered on top of a washing machine in an outhouse, wrapped in a towel inside a blue bag. Prosecutor Luke Hopkinson said the defendants accused of perverting the course of justice were alleged to have cleaned the scene.

Two further women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail, police confirmed.

Bouquets of flowers and cuddly toys have been laid outside the Holywell Heights property since the discovery.

Speaking ahead of the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward said the court appearance marked "a significant step" in the investigation. "I would like to thank our communities, who I know will have been deeply impacted by this traumatic incident, for supporting us as we work through this intricate investigation," he said.

Woodward urged the public to refrain from speculating or posting information about the case online while legal proceedings continue. "Protecting the integrity of the criminal justice process is crucial to us securing justice for this little girl," he said.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers would remain in and around the Holywell Heights area to continue their inquiries.

Source: BBC News