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Care worker 'murdered her baby and dumped body in park', court hears 

A young immigrant mother murdered her new born baby daughter after hiding her pregnancy when she entered the UK, a court heard today.

Babita Rai crushed the infant's skull, leaving her with 'severe' injuries and dumping her body in a park within hours of giving birth, a jury was told.

The 24-year-old is accused of giving her daughter 'deliberate' repeated blows to the head immediately after her labour, causing 'significant' and fatal fractures.

A gardener trimming shrubs at the edge of the public park made the discovery in undergrowth some four days later, initially believing the baby's body to be a 'child's doll'.

Jurors today heard Rai - 20 at the time - was around six months pregnant when she entered the country from Nepal but concealed it from border officials, her GP, and colleagues at a restaurant she worked at.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Rai had told a colleague she had a lover in Nepal in terms that suggested an interracial relationship, something prosecutors described as 'culturally significant'.

A Nepalese culture expert is expected to be called by the defence to explain to jurors about the 'shame' surrounding births out of wedlock. 

(image: ) A Nepali woman is accused of crushing her newborn baby's skull after hiding her pregnancy when she entered the UK three years ago.

Pictured: scene where baby's body was discovered

(image: ) A gardener who was trimming shrubs at the edge of Manor Park in Aldershot, Hants.,(pictured) discovered the newborn baby's body in undergrowth four days after experts believe she died

The kitchen worker could have been helped by another person in inflicting the injuries on 'Baby M', prosecutors allege, in what may have been a 'joint enterprise'.

Rai, now 24, denies charges of murder and infanticide following the incident at Manor Park in Aldershot, Hants, in May 2017.

Adam Feest QC, prosecuting at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, told jurors Rai arrived in the UK from Nepal in February 2017 with her sister and the pair went to live with their family opposite the Aldershot park.

Evidence shows the baby was born alive at 35 weeks gestation on the night of May 15, weighing 4lbs 12oz.

Park keeper David Reece found Baby M at 1.15pm on May 19.

A colleague of Rai's said she 'always wore loose clothing' and spoke about a 'lover' that she had in Nepal in terms that suggested an interracial relationship, which Mr Feest QC said could be 'culturally significant'.

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Opening the case, Mr Feest QC said: 'Within a very short time of birth, the baby suffered multiple fractures to her skull with associated internal bleeding and brain swelling.

'Expert evidence indicates these were the result of multiple blunt force impacts and or significant crush injuries.

'Howsoever caused, Smoking Fetish XXX they were deliberately inflicted injuries and could not have been sustained by the baby accidentally, either during the process of labour, even a traumatic one, or afterwards, for example the baby falling on the floor.

'The baby girl survived the injuries for perhaps between two and 12 hours, the likelihood being closer to two than 12.

Expert evidence suggests when she died she was less than six hours old.

'The baby's body, with the umbilical cord and placenta still attached, was in amongst the bushes and undergrowth just inside the park in the foetal position on May 19, some four days later, and was found by a park keeper.

(image: ) A jury was told that expert evidence indicated the baby's injuries were the result of multiple blunt force impacts and significant crush injuries.

Pictured: a police cordon in place at scene

(image: ) A court was told the baby suffered multiple fractures to her skull with internal bleeding and brain swelling shortly after time of birth.

Pictured: an aerial image of where the baby was found

'It is clear that the baby must have been passed or put over or through the railings from the birth site and then left on the ground where she was found, a matter of less than a metre from the fence.

'Blood from the mother outside the park leading into the park and from the baby on the fence confirms this.'

He added: 'It is the crown's case that Babita Rai is responsible for the murder of her child, happening so soon after the birth which she had concealed upon entry to the UK in February 2017 and thereafter.

'It is unclear whether or not she was alone at the time, there is some grainy CCTV footage showing two figures in the vicinity near the relevant time.

'The case against the accused is that either Rai inflicted the injuries herself or they were inflicted by her and or another with whom she was acting in concert, in what is sometimes called a joint enterprise.

'The crown say she is criminally responsible for the death of her child.'

Mr Feest QC said following the incident a large investigation and public enquiry began, but Rai 'made no response' to any of the enquiries and has never sought medical or police help in relation to the birth and death.

Subsequent investigations and DNA evidence later revealed Rai to be the mother but following her arrest in March 2020 she gave a 'no comment' interview.

(image: ) Babita Rai, 24, who came to the UK three years ago, has denied murder and infanticide and is on trial at Winchester Crown Court (pictured).

The trial is expected to last three weeks

Grainy CCTV from 11pm to midnight on the night of May 15 was shown to jurors, showing two people walking around the vicinity of the birth site.

One member of the public recalled seeing a small Asian woman around 10.40pm that night looking 'dishevelled', 'embarrassed he had seen her', and 'appearing to wish to remain out of sight'. 

Michael Turner QC, defending, told jurors Rai was suffering from PTSD and has no memory of the incident.

In a brief outline of the defence's case, he said: 'A lack of memory goes hand in hand with someone whose balance of mind was disturbed.

'She can't plead guilty to something she can't remember but she's not shirking away from her responsibilities.'

He also told jurors a Nepalese culture expert will tell them about the 'shame' surrounding births out of wedlock.

Mr Turner QC added 'no one knew' about the pregnancy and that Rai gave birth 'in the dead of the night, on her own, behind a tree, with no medical assistance and no painkillers'.

The child was given the name Baby M by police.

Rai, who has dark hair, is wearing a blue jumper and requires an interpreter in the dock, denies murder and an alternative charge of infanticide.

The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues.

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