By Catrin Owen of 
Emergency services were called to the Silverdale home in November last year. Photo: Stuff / Lawrence Smith
An Auckland mother charged after her baby died in November 2022, cried silently in the dock as she pleaded guilty to infanticide after suffering from a severe depressive episode.
Police were called to an address on Mita Road in Silverdale on 15 November, where an infant was found dead.
The mother, a 35-year-old woman, was taken to hospital in a serious condition at the time. She was later charged with murder.
The woman appeared at the High Court at Auckland on Wednesday where she pleaded guilty to infanticide.
Prosecutor Robin McCoubrey told Justice Graham Lang the Crown accepted the woman is not guilty of murder but guilty of infanticide. This amended charge has been approved by the Solicitor General.
"Our law states where a mother is affected by post natal depression and then tragically makes the decision to kill her child she's guilty of infanticide," McCoubrey said.
He said three health experts all agreed the woman suffered a severe depressive episode after the birth of her child which tragically then led her to kill the baby.
The woman's lawyer, Michael Kan, sought for interim name suppression to continue for both his client and also flagged he would be seeking a discharge without conviction at the sentencing date in May.
"This is an incredibly distressing situation for the family involved, along with first responders and police who attended," Detective Inspector Callum McNeill previously said.
"Police and Victim Support has been working closely to support all those involved in this tragic event."
Where to get help
- 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.
- Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
- Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202
- Lifeline 0800 543 354
- Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254
- Samaritans 0800 726 666
- Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Yellow Brick Road 0800 732 825
- thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626
- What's Up 0800 942 8787 (for 5 to 18-year-olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon-11pm and weekends, 3pm-11pm. Online chat is available 3pm-10pm daily.
- Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or find online chat and other support options here.
- If it is an emergency, click here to find the number for your local crisis assessment team.
- In a life-threatening situation, call 111.
This story was originally published by Stuff.
