A young mother (name withheld) has pleaded guilty to a charge of burying her newborn alive. She made her confession at the Brikama Magistrates Court, which was crowded by relatives and concerned individuals.

The visibly traumatised young mother, who is believed to be in her 20s, is being prosecuted for burying her baby at Brikama Perseverance Street on July 23, shortly after its delivery.

Defense counsel, Lawyer Lamin K Mboge, told the court that he advised the suspect to change her plea from not guilty to guilty.

Subsequently  Magistrate M’Bai ordered that the charge sheet be read before the accused, after which she pleaded guilty.

In a short and precise narration, police prosecutor, Sub-Inspector Saine told the court that the accused was arrested and the body of the baby exhumed, before a postmortem was  conducted.

Sub-Inspector Saine then tendered the pictures and the postmorten examination result in the court as exhibits.

In his plea of mitigation, Lawyer Mboge appealed to the court to exercise mercy on the accused, saying that the court has the power under Section 29, sub-Section 3 to impose a fine, instead of  life imprisonment.