An Irish backpacker travelling in Western Australia has been charged with attempting to hide the death of her newborn baby.
The 25-year-old had been travelling in the area of Kimberley with friends and reportedly did not realise she was pregnant. She gave birth in May, while in the town of Halls Creek.
Western Australian police say the woman was charged with “concealing the birth of a child that died before or after birth”.
It has been reported that she hid the birth and didn’t tell her friends until days later. They took her to a hospital and staff contacted police.
This case came to light when the woman appeared in court in Kununurra at the end of June. The case has been referred to Perth and she is due in court later this year.
The president of WA Criminal Lawyers Association Linda Black told ABC Radio: “It’s a charge that seems to be fairly rarely used. I can’t recall the last time I heard of anyone being charged with this”.
She went on to say that most countries have a law that requires births to be reported, saying this charge ” is not unique to Western Australia”.
