The Grassy Park newborn case now faces murder charges as the State escalated charges against Ireesha Francis (31) from child neglect to murder after her one-day-old baby girl was found dead in a drain in Lotus River, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to SmileFM Francis appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where the court heard that she had given birth at Retreat Midwife Obstetric Unit on 1 May and was discharged with her baby the following day in good health.
The infant was later found on Sunday, wrapped in blankets and plastic, near 2nd Avenue and Antelope Street.
Search efforts began after Francis returned home without the newborn and gave conflicting accounts to family members. Residents, the CPF and neighbourhood watch structures joined the search before police followed information that led them to the drain.
Sergeant Wesley Twiggs said , ‘The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the child are under investigation’.
Grassy Park CPF urged the public to ‘please respect the family and not make any speculations around the incident.’ Francis opted for legal aid and broke down in tears as she was taken to the holding cells.
According to PMC research suggests infant homicide is extremely rare globally at around 2.6 per 100 000 children and psychiatric experts note that many maternal neonaticide cases are associated with postpartum psychosis, severe depression and intense social stress such as stigma, isolation, or fear of rejection.
The case returns to court on 14 May for a formal bail application.
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