Sheffield newborn baby’s funeral set as five charged over death won’t attend
The funeral of newborn Maria Skopova, whose death is being treated as an alleged murder, will take place in Sheffield next week. Police say the five people charged in connection with her death will not attend the cathedral service.
The service is scheduled for 1.30pm on Monday, October 26, at St Marie’s Catholic Cathedral and will be conducted mainly in Slovakian, followed by a private family service. Four adults face murder charges, alongside charges of causing or allowing a child’s death and perverting the course of justice; a 15-year-old is charged with perverting the course of justice. Maria’s body was found on August 30, and a court previously heard she had 33 wounds; the defendants have not entered pleas, with a further hearing due on December 14 and trial set for April 12.
In short
- Maria Skopova’s funeral will be held at Sheffield cathedral.
- The five charged in connection with her death will not attend.
- Trial is scheduled for April 12.
Explained simply
Maria Skopova was a newborn whose body was found in Sheffield on 30 August. Police are treating her death as an alleged murder, and a court has heard that she had 33 wounds.
Five people have been charged in connection with her death: four adults face murder charges and other allegations, while a 15-year-old is charged with perverting the course of justice. They have not yet entered pleas, so the charges have not been tested at trial; a trial is scheduled for April.