Four people have been ordered to face trial in connection with the death of a newborn baby girl whose body was discovered at a residential property in Sheffield. The case is scheduled to begin at Sheffield Crown Court on 12 April 2027 and is expected to last between six and seven weeks.

Police were called to Holywell Heights in the Wincobank area of the city in the early hours of Sunday, 30 August 2026, following reports of concern for the safety of an infant. Officers later found the body of a baby girl, referred to in court only as Baby S, in an outhouse at the address. The infant had been wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag on top of a washing machine.

A post-mortem examination established that the baby died as a result of stab wounds. Court proceedings have heard that she sustained 33 wounds caused by 15 separate stabbings and that medical evidence indicated she was alive at the time of the attack. Prosecutors stated that the baby was born in the early hours of 30 August at the property.

The four adults charged with murder are Andrea Skopova, 20; Peter Horvath, 19; Peter Horvath, 38; and Nina Horvathova, 37. All four are Slovakian nationals. In addition to the murder charge, they face counts of causing or allowing the death of a child and of perverting the course of justice by allegedly taking steps to clean or conceal the scene. A 15-year-old girl has also been charged with perverting the course of justice and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Court hearings have identified Skopova as the baby’s mother. Prosecutors have indicated that the idenтιтy of the father is not known and that Peter Horvath Jr is not believed to be the father. The older couple, Peter Horvath Sr and Nina Horvathova, are the parents of the younger Peter Horvath.

During appearances at both magistrates’ court and Sheffield Crown Court, the defendants required the ᴀssistance of Slovak interpreters. Skopova and the teenage defendant were reported to have become emotional during the hearings. All four adults were remanded in custody until a further hearing on 2 October 2026. The 15-year-old was remanded into youth custody.

Two other women, aged 26 and 37, who were earlier arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on police bail. Local residents have left flowers and soft toys outside the property as a mark of respect. Senior officers have described the incident as deeply traumatic for the surrounding community.

The case remains at an early stage of the criminal process. A full trial is not expected until spring 2027.

Sources : BBC News