‘Murdered’ newborn baby was ‘stabbed 15 times by family’ at Sheffield home before body was dumped in outhouse, court told
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Further details have emerged in the case of a newborn baby, known as Baby S, found stabbed to death in an outhouse in the Wincobank area of Sheffield, with a court told the child suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings. It has now emerged that the baby's mother, Andrea Skopova, gave birth at 37 weeks before presenting at hospital, where staff became confident the baby was not still in the womb and alerted police shortly after 5am on Sunday. Officers initially could not find the baby at the hospital-linked address before locating her body, wrapped in towelling and a blue bag, on top of a washing machine at a rented property in Holywell Heights.
All five defendants, who are Slovak nationals and required an interpreter, appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court in grey prison-issue tracksuits and were remanded in custody to appear before Sheffield Crown Court the following day. It has also emerged that a separate 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named, is charged only with perverting the course of justice, and that an eight-year-old child was present in the house at the time. Two further women, aged 26 and 37, arrested on suspicion of murder remain on bail, while South Yorkshire Police's Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward thanked the community for its support during the investigation.
- Baby S suffered 33 wounds from 15 stabbings, court hears
- All five accused, Slovak nationals, remanded to appear at Crown Court
- Two further women, 26 and 37, arrested on suspicion of murder remain on bail
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Andrea Skopova, a young mother's newborn, known publicly only as Baby S, was found dead in an outhouse in the Wincobank area of Sheffield after being born at a nearby house on 30 August. Five people, all Slovakian nationals connected to the family, have since been charged over the death, including the baby's mother, her boyfriend, and his parents.
The five defendants face charges of murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice, the latter relating to allegations that the crime scene was cleaned afterwards. A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged separately with perverting the course of justice, and other children were reportedly present in the house at the time.
The case is now moving from magistrates' court to Sheffield Crown Court, where the full allegations will be tested. Two further women remain on bail as part of the ongoing police investigation, meaning the case may still widen before it comes to trial.
Full account
Five people, all Slovak nationals, have appeared before Sheffield Magistrates' Court charged in connection with the death of a newborn baby girl whose body was found concealed in an outhouse at a property in the Holywell Heights area of the city. The infant, referred to in proceedings only as Baby S, was discovered fatally injured on Sunday morning after having reportedly been stabbed multiple times. Prosecutors told the court she had sustained 33 separate wounds arising from 15 stab injuries.
Appearing in the dock were the baby's mother, Andrea Skopova, 20, previously of Robey Street in Sheffield, alongside Peter Horvath, 19, and his parents Nina Horvathova, 37, and Peter Horvath, 38, all said to live at the Holywell Heights address. All four face charges of murder, of causing or allowing the death of a child, and of perverting the course of justice by allegedly taking steps to clean up the scene. A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named because of her age, also appeared and faces a single charge of perverting the course of justice. Because all five defendants are Slovak nationals, an interpreter was required during the hearing, and each was remanded in custody ahead of a further appearance at Sheffield Crown Court.
Setting out the prosecution case, barrister Luke Hopkinson said the baby had been born in the early hours of Sunday morning at 37 weeks' gestation at the Holywell Heights address, and that Skopova had gone to hospital shortly afterwards. Medical staff, having assessed her, were said to be satisfied that she was no longer carrying the child, prompting them to contact police just after 5am. Officers initially struggled to locate the baby before eventually searching the Holywell Heights property, where she was found already dead, wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag on top of a washing machine in an outside outbuilding. The court heard the fatal injuries were inflicted with a knife, and it is further alleged that Horvathova and the 15-year-old girl cleaned blood from a bathroom at the property. An eight-year-old child was also reported to have been present in the house at the time.
Separately, two women aged 26 and 37 who had earlier been arrested on suspicion of murder remain on police bail while enquiries continue, and officers are expected to maintain a presence around Holywell Heights as the investigation progresses. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward of South Yorkshire Police described the case as a significant development in a distressing and complex inquiry, thanked the local community for its support, and urged people not to speculate about the case online while legal proceedings continue, stressing the importance of protecting the justice process for the baby's sake.
Where outlets differ
Reports differ slightly on the timing of the next court date: one account states the defendants were due back before Sheffield Crown Court 'tomorrow' (implying Wednesday), while the other specifies Thursday.
One outlet focuses more heavily on scene-setting detail — describing the property as a 'smart', apparently rented house, and noting that police forensic teams were seen entering it the day after the baby was found — whereas the other outlet places greater emphasis on the community response, noting flowers and cuddly toys left outside the property.
One report identifies Peter Horvath Jr as Skopova's boyfriend, a relationship detail not stated in the other account.
The two reports quote Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward to different lengths, with one giving only a brief thanks to the community and the other including his fuller appeal for the public to avoid speculating online and to respect the integrity of the legal process.
One source gives a previous address for Andrea Skopova (Robey Street, Sheffield), which the other does not mention.
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