A 28-year-old woman has been given a three year suspended sentence for killing her new born baby.
According to the summary of facts, the woman who was living in Rakiraki got pregnant in 2014 and when she informed her boyfriend about her pregnancy, he broke up with her.
She was ashamed of her pregnancy so she did not tell anyone about it and also did not attend any clinic or receive any emotional support during her pregnancy.
This was her first child.
In the early hours of 23rd January, 2014 the woman gave birth to a baby boy in her bathroom.
She fell on the floor of the bathroom and was unconscious for a few minutes.
It was heard in court that she killed her baby after she regained consciousness.
As mitigation, Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Sunil Sharma considered that the accused was 26 years of age at the time of the offending; a first offender and not married; co‑operated with the Police during investigation, remorseful and was a victim of cultural, social and emotional failures.
Justice Sharma also considered that the woman is supporting her elderly parents and she has spent about 64 days in remand
Justice Sharma sentenced the woman to 2 years imprisonment which is suspended for 3 years.
He also ordered that the woman undergo counselling organised or arranged by the Department of Social Welfare in Rakiraki for two years.
