A mother and three other Slovakians appeared in court charged with the murder of a newborn baby, identified as Maria Skopova, who was allegedly stabbed 15 times and found on a washing machine. Maria died on the day she was born in Sheffield, with her body discovered wrapped in a towel inside a blue bag at a property in Holywell Heights, Wincobank, on August 30. A post-mortem examination revealed that Maria sustained 33 wounds, including injuries to her face, torso, and back.
The defendants include Andrea Skopova, 20, Peter Horvath Jr, 19, Peter Horvath Sr, 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37. They are all charged with Maria's murder, as well as causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice by allegedly cleaning the scene. A fifth defendant, a 15-year-old girl whose identity is protected for legal reasons, is also charged with perverting the course of justice.
No pleas have been entered, and a provisional trial is scheduled for April next year. The defendants appeared in a glass-fronted dock, assisted by Slovakian interpreters, while a number of relatives observed from the public gallery. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, the Recorder of Sheffield, emphasized the importance of maintaining order in the courtroom, warning against emotional outbursts.
Maria was discovered after police received reports concerning the safety of an infant at the Holywell Heights property. During earlier proceedings, it was stated that the identity of the baby's father is unknown, and Horvath Jr is not believed to be her father. The trial is expected to last between six and seven weeks, beginning on April 12, with a significant amount of bodycam and dashcam footage to be reviewed.
The defendants were remanded into custody, while the 15-year-old girl was placed in youth custody. An inquest into Maria's death was recently opened and adjourned. Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden reported that emergency services pronounced Maria deceased at the scene, and she was identified through police inquiries. Two additional women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail.