Dumped baby woman 'unaware pregnant'

Police at the scene where a newborn baby was found dead in the front yard of a Charters Towers home. Photo: Katrina Hinschen, Northern Miner Source: Townsville Bulletin

THE woman accused of dumping her newborn baby in the backyard of a home says she didn't know she was pregnant until she was in labour.

The 21-year-old, who cannot be named, came home from a pub in Charters Towers, south-west of Townsville, at 2am on November 4, and started having contractions, a court heard yesterday, the Townsville Bulletin reports.

It was revealed the woman, who is accused of dumping her baby, allegedly tried to hide a previous pregnancy.

The woman appeared in court yesterday accused of giving birth to a boy and trying to conceal his body.

Police found a "large amount of blood" under a mango tree in the yard. They also found a shallow hole next to a palm tree at the back of the property in which were a black-and-white striped skirt and a bath towel, both soiled.

Police prosecutor Lescha Palmore said the woman told police the baby was stillborn.

"She said that morning she started to get stomach pains and started to have contractions," she said.

"She gave birth on the patio area. She got a skirt and placed the child in a skirt."

Ms Palmore said the deceased newborn was a "full-term baby" of at least 40 weeks' gestation.

The court was told the woman's family had no idea she was pregnant.

She said she wanted to tell her aunt after giving birth, but didn't because the lights were out.

The baby's body was found about 7am on November 4 by a resident as she went out to feed the pet dog.

Ms Palmore said the defendant had concealed a previous pregnancy when she was carrying her first child, now 21 months old.

"She told her sister she was pregnant but that she terminated it, and six months later she gave birth," she said.

Andi Plinplan