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Mother who dumped day-old baby in Sydney drain jailed Mother who dumped day-old baby in Sydney drain jailed
(about 1 month later)
In the days after dumping her day-old baby down a Sydney drain, an intellectually impaired woman returned to the scene several times.In the days after dumping her day-old baby down a Sydney drain, an intellectually impaired woman returned to the scene several times.
When she couldn’t hear crying on the second occasion, she assumed the newborn boy had died, a court has heard.When she couldn’t hear crying on the second occasion, she assumed the newborn boy had died, a court has heard.
The 32-year-old woman, whose baby was found alive after about five days at the bottom of the 2.4-metre drain in 2014, was on Thursday sentenced to a maximum three years and six months in jail.The 32-year-old woman, whose baby was found alive after about five days at the bottom of the 2.4-metre drain in 2014, was on Thursday sentenced to a maximum three years and six months in jail.
Parramatta district court heard the woman had become pregnant after only a few sexual encounters with her first partner, who later left her.Parramatta district court heard the woman had become pregnant after only a few sexual encounters with her first partner, who later left her.
One staff member at Blacktown hospital expressed concerns that something was wrong with the woman but she was discharged the day after giving birth without the knowledge of her family.One staff member at Blacktown hospital expressed concerns that something was wrong with the woman but she was discharged the day after giving birth without the knowledge of her family.
“I sat with him in the park for a while,” the woman, who caught a train to Quakers Hill after leaving hospital, later told police. “We were close to the Quakers Road then I just saw the drain. Then I just put baby in there.”“I sat with him in the park for a while,” the woman, who caught a train to Quakers Hill after leaving hospital, later told police. “We were close to the Quakers Road then I just saw the drain. Then I just put baby in there.”
Related: Mother charged over baby in drain 'deserves compassion, not vilification'
She told police she heard nothing after the little boy had fallen to the bottom because he was “sleeping”.She told police she heard nothing after the little boy had fallen to the bottom because he was “sleeping”.
The court heard she returned the following day and then two days after that and heard nothing on both occasions.The court heard she returned the following day and then two days after that and heard nothing on both occasions.
“She concluded her baby had died,” judge Andrew Colefax said.“She concluded her baby had died,” judge Andrew Colefax said.
The court heard the woman had led a very sheltered life and that testing had found she had the cognitive reasoning capacity of a middle primary school student.The court heard the woman had led a very sheltered life and that testing had found she had the cognitive reasoning capacity of a middle primary school student.
Colefax said she had no criminal history and her prospects of rehabilitation were extremely high.Colefax said she had no criminal history and her prospects of rehabilitation were extremely high.
“I think the perfect storm of factors which led to this shocking crime were both largely out of the control of the offender and are extremely unlikely to be repeated,” he said.“I think the perfect storm of factors which led to this shocking crime were both largely out of the control of the offender and are extremely unlikely to be repeated,” he said.
It took seven people to move a concrete slab that partially covered the drain, where the baby was found loosely wrapped in a hospital blanket. He had lost 20% of his birth weight before being admitted to hospital where he was treated for dehydration and a lack of nutrition, and given antibiotics.It took seven people to move a concrete slab that partially covered the drain, where the baby was found loosely wrapped in a hospital blanket. He had lost 20% of his birth weight before being admitted to hospital where he was treated for dehydration and a lack of nutrition, and given antibiotics.
The court heard the woman had at first seemed happy about the pregnancy but became depressed when her boyfriend told her he had a new girlfriend and that he had heard someone else had fathered the child.The court heard the woman had at first seemed happy about the pregnancy but became depressed when her boyfriend told her he had a new girlfriend and that he had heard someone else had fathered the child.
She was concerned her Samoan family would disapprove of the man being Fijian.She was concerned her Samoan family would disapprove of the man being Fijian.
The child’s foster carer has said he is meeting milestones so far but he will have to be regularly assessed for long-term effects up to school age.The child’s foster carer has said he is meeting milestones so far but he will have to be regularly assessed for long-term effects up to school age.
The woman was given a backdated non-parole period of one year and nine months, meaning she will be eligible for release in August.The woman was given a backdated non-parole period of one year and nine months, meaning she will be eligible for release in August.