A MOTHER has admitted killing her baby by throwing the newborn over the balcony of her flat in Weston-super-Mare.

Sarah Jayne Barron, 34, pleaded guilty to infanticide during a brief hearing at Bristol Crown Court today (Tuesday, May 9).

A police investigation was opened after the baby’s body was discovered in a private garden in Weston on December 12, 2020.

Barron had previously denied a charge of murder but admitted the plea of infanticide when she was re-arraigned.

The court was told the offence was committed on December 4, 2020, when Barron “caused the death of your child under 12 months by wilful act by throwing them over the balcony of your flat at the time you had not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth”.

Anna Vigars KC, prosecuting, told the court the plea was acceptable to the Crown and a trial will not be necessary.

Charles Row KC, defending Barron, asked for the case to be adjourned for the preparation of psychiatric reports.

Barron, whose current address was withheld by the court, was released on conditional bail until she is sentenced on July 14.

Judge Peter Blair KC, the Recorder of Bristol, told the defendant: “The prosecution has indicated today your guilty plea to the alternative charge of infanticide is acceptable and therefore the trial listed for July 17 is to be vacated, as is the further case management hearing on June 15.

“The sentencing exercise will now be undertaken on July 14 and until then you will be on bail with conditions.

“The fact you have pleaded guilty will enable the judge to give you credit for your guilty plea and it will be for the judge to decide how much you will be given.

“Having read what I have read, I suspect considerable credit will be afforded.”

Following today's hearing, senior investigating officer Det Supt Gary Haskins said: “This is a very tragic and deeply upsetting case, and we know it’s had a profound impact on the local community where the incident happened, as well as all those involved in the investigation.

“We’ve worked closely with our colleagues at the CPS throughout and agree with their assessment that a plea to a charge of infanticide was the most proportionate outcome, taking all the circumstances into account.”

Iain Jenkins, of the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit, said: “The CPS has a duty to keep cases under continuous review to ensure a defendant faces the most appropriate charge.

“We recently received new material in the form of two expert reports from independent medical professionals.

"These reports considered matters within the experts’ particular field of expertise and all the known facts, including the defendant’s health at the time of the offence.

“Following careful review of these reports, and working closely with our colleagues in MCIT, the CPS decided that the most appropriate charge in this case is infanticide rather than murder.”