Wincobank Baby S murder: Everything we know so far as suspects prepare for next court date
Baby S was found wrapped in a towel and in a blue bag in an outbuilding
As the suspects in a case involving the alleged murder of a Sheffield baby prepare for their next hearing, here is everything known so far.
Police were called to Holywell Heights, Wincobank, at 5.58am on Sunday, August 30, after reports of concern for the safety of a newborn baby.
The body of the girl was found when officers arrived and despite their best efforts and those of paramedics she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene and seven people were arrested.
Police remained at the cordoned property throughout the following day as plain-clothed officers were seen coming and going from the house.
Flowers - including a bouquet of pink and white - began appearing outside the house as a mark of respect.
Police revealed that the baby died as a result of “stab wounds” on Tuesday, September 2 and the same day confirmed five people had been charged over the killing.
The mother of Baby S, Andrea Skopova, aged 20; her boyfriend Peter Horvath, 19 and his parents Peter Horvath, 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37, were charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice by taking steps to conceal the killing of an infant after the baby girl’s death.
A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
She had suffered stab wounds.
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The five - all Slovakian nationals - appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on September 3.
All five defendants sat in a glass-fronted dock, watched by 26 members of their families from the public gallery balcony above.
They were flanked by seven security guards and other staff, and two Slovak interpreters.
Onlookers in the gallery were in tears, and one woman cried hysterically as the defendants left the dock, leading the judge to order the public gallery to be cleared.
Judge Sarah Wright fixed a trial date for April 12 next year, saying it was expected to last six to seven weeks.
Prosecutor Luke Hopkinson had previously told Sheffield Magistrates’ Court that Horvath Jnr was not believed to be the baby’s father.
Two women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail.