Woman who hid newborn in cereal box after secret birth guilty of murder
Date: 2024-10-24
A woman who hid her newborn baby inside a cereal box faces a life sentence after being convicted of murder.
Jia Xen Teo, 22, kept her pregnancy secret – even from the father back home in Malaysia – after arriving in the UK earlier this year to study at Coventry University.
She gave birth to a full-term baby alone on March 4. Teo then went to hospital by herself, but denied having had a baby when asked by suspicious staff.
Worried she had abandoned her baby, police went to her home where they found the newborn in a cereal box inside a zipped sealable bag and hidden inside a suitcase.
Teo denied murder, claiming she had heard voices telling her to harm the baby.
But jurors at Warwick Crown Court found her guilty on Thursday.
Speaking after the case, James Leslie Francis, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘Jia Xin Teo hid her pregnancy from everyone she knew and arrived in the UK knowing she was likely to give birth here.
‘She had opportunity to seek help but instead chose to carry her pregnancy in secret and give birth alone.
‘After she gave birth, she still did not tell anybody and refused to go to hospital to get checked. She lied to friends who cared about her, to doctors at the hospital and to the police so no-one found her baby.
‘She did not tell the police where she hid her baby until two days had passed, by which time the baby would certainly be dead.
‘Baby Teo was alive after birth and could have survived but Jia Xin Teo made the decision to place her inside a cereal box knowing it would kill her.
‘The jury has made the decision to convict her for her actions and I would like to thank them for their careful consideration in this complex and sensitive case.’
Teo will be sentenced at a later date.
If you're expecting or you've recently given birth and need extra support:
For any physical or mental support, your GP or health visitors should be a good first line of support. There are a range of perinatal services available which they will be able to sign post or refer you to.
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) offers a variety of courses and workshops, including antenatal and postnatal courses. They also have an Infant Feeding Line for questions about feeding.Â
Birth Companions offers support during pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. They provide breastfeeding support, caring for new babies, and referrals to other support agencies. Birth Companions also offer a 24/7 birthline for practical and emotional support.
Home–StartUKÂ is a non-profit organisation providing a range of support to parents including a network of up to 20,000 volunteers who can provide virtual or in-house support.
The NHS offers a variety of support for new and expectant mothers, including health support tailored to the woman’s needs, maternal mental health services, women’s health hubs, GPs and midwifery teams for those struggling with their mental healthÂ
Midwives can provide information about support services available from local agencies and services. This could include health visitors or local parenting groups.Â
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