State Coroner Rules Open Verdict in Case of Buried Newborn after Teen Pregnancy

By
Siti Hajar
-
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State Coroner Adam Nakhoda declared an open verdict on 2 Apr 2025 in the case of a newborn baby boy found buried in a garden, stating that the cause of death could not be determined.

Coroner’s Findings on Infant Death Case

The baby’s body was already in a state of decomposition when discovered, making it impossible for the autopsy to establish if the infant was stillborn or had died after birth.

According to the Singapore Medical Association, an “open verdict” is given when the cause of death cannot be reasonably ascertained based on evidence produced during an inquiry.

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State Coroner Nakhoda noted that according to statements from both parents, the baby was stillborn. He also added that there was no evidence of foul play in the case.

A gag order was imposed on the identities of the baby and his parents due to their ages at the time of the pregnancy.

Underage Parents and Attempted Pregnancy Termination

The court heard that the mother was 15 years old when she became pregnant by her then-boyfriend, who was 14. The teenagers were classmates at a secondary school and had started a romantic relationship in May 2020.

The boy would have unprotected sex with the girl in his bedroom, as he found it hard to purchase condoms because of his age.

In January 2021, after discovering she was pregnant, the couple made several attempts to terminate the pregnancy using methods they found online.

These included inserting a clothes hanger into the girl’s body to try to remove the fetus, taking abortion pills, and the boy applying physical force by punching and kneeing her abdomen.

Birth and Aftermath Leading to Discovery

The girl experienced labor pains and gave birth to their son alone in her bedroom in June 2021, approximately six months into her pregnancy, while on a video call with her boyfriend.

Both teenagers stated that the baby was not moving or crying when born.

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Initially, the girl wrapped the infant in newspaper and hid him in her cabinet. Two days later, following her boyfriend’s warning about the risks of keeping the body, she buried the baby in the garden of her home.

The girl would occasionally sit by the burial site to grieve.

After the couple ended their relationship in March 2022, the matter came to light a month later when the girl’s mother noticed her daughter was exceptionally withdrawn and questioned her.

The teenager confessed what had happened, and the police were alerted soon after.

In February 2024, the father was given 21 months of supervised probation for having sex with a minor and instigating his then-girlfriend to bury their child. The girl received a conditional warning for her role in the case.

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Siti Hajar