Malaysian Student Who Stuffed Her Newborn Into A Cereal Box Is Convicted Of Murder In UK
Police discovered the infant two days later.
By Laila Zain — 25 Oct 2024, 09:56 AM
A Malaysian student has been convicted of murder after the body of her newborn baby was found hidden inside a cereal box and stashed in a suitcase in the United Kingdom
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Teo Jia Xin, 22, claimed she heard voices telling her to kill or harm the baby, reported the BBC.
Teo pleaded guilty to the murder charge.
The CPS said the baby "was alive after birth and could have survived but Teo Jia Xin made the decision to place her inside a cereal box knowing that it would kill her."
The jury at Warwick Crown Court rejected her defence.
Teo Jia Xin has been convicted of the murder of her newborn baby.
Image via West Midlands Police via BBCAccording to reports, Teo carried the baby to full term and gave birth on 4 March
After giving birth, Teo reportedly placed the newborn inside a cereal box, which was then placed inside a plastic bag and stored in a suitcase.
The prosecution argued that the baby was alive and that Teo was fully aware her actions would lead to the infant's death.
Teo later sought medical help at a hospital. When hospital staff noticed signs of childbirth and asked if she had given birth, Teo denied it. The hospital alerted the West Midlands Police, who visited her residence two days later.
During police questioning, Teo finally admitted to having given birth.
Teo had reportedly hid her pregnancy out of fear that her family and friends in Malaysia would find out, believing it could jeopardise her studies
Following her conviction, CPS spokesperson James Leslie Francis commented, "She chose to keep her pregnancy a secret and gave birth alone. She also lied to her concerned friends, to hospital doctors, and to the police to prevent anyone from discovering her baby."
Teo had only arrived in the UK earlier this year. The date of her sentencing has yet to be set.
