FOUR PEOPLE ACCUSED OVER NEWBORN BABY’S DEATH NOW FACE ANOTHER SERIOUS CHARGE — AND IT CENTRES ON WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS

THE CASE OF BABY S HAS TAKEN ANOTHER DISTURBING TURN — WITH FOUR PEOPLE NOW FACING ALLEGATIONS THAT THEY TRIED TO CONCEAL WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE NEWBORN GIRL’S DEATH.

Andrea Skopova, 20, Peter Horvath Jr, 19, Peter Horvath Sr, 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37, are due to stand trial next year over the death of a newborn girl known in court only as Baby S.

But murder is not the only charge they face.

All four have also been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice by taking steps to conceal the alleged killing.

Earlier reports described the alleged conduct as involving the cleaning of the scene.

The charges have added another disturbing question to an already shocking case:

What allegedly happened inside the property after Baby S died — and why did prosecutors say the scene was cleaned?

THE NEWBORN AT THE CENTRE OF THE CASE

Baby S was born at 37 weeks in the early hours of Sunday, August 30, according to evidence heard in court.

Her mother, Andrea Skopova, later went to hospital. Medical staff became concerned after recognizing that she had recently given birth and contacted police shortly after 5 a.m.

Officers went to an address in Sheffield’s Wincobank area after receiving reports concerning the safety of an infant.

The baby was eventually found at an address on Holywell Heights.

She was discovered inside an outbuilding, wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag on top of a washing machine.

A forensic post-mortem examination determined that Baby S died from stab wounds.

Prosecutors told an earlier hearing that the newborn had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings, including injuries to her face and torso, both front and back.

FOUR ADULTS FACE THREE DIFFERENT CHARGES

Skopova, Horvath Jr, Horvath Sr and Horvathova have all been charged with:

• murder;
• causing or allowing the death of a child; and
• perverting the course of justice by allegedly taking steps to conceal the killing.

The Crown Prosecution Service has stressed that bringing charges does not mean the defendants have been found guilty.

The case remains before the courts, and all four are entitled to a fair trial.

A FIFTH DEFENDANT

A 15-year-old girl also appeared in court alongside the four adults.

Because of her age, she cannot legally be named.

She faces a charge of perverting the course of justice.

The teenager was among those appearing in the glass-fronted dock at Sheffield Crown Court.

The hearing was described as highly emotional, with the 15-year-old and Skopova both crying during proceedings.

Seven security guards and two Slovak interpreters were present around the dock, while 26 relatives watched from the public gallery.

The defendants are all Slovakian nationals.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEFENDANTS

The court has also heard how the four adult defendants are connected.

Skopova is the mother of Baby S and was described as the girlfriend of Peter Horvath Jr.

Horvath Jr is the son of Peter Horvath Sr and Nina Horvathova.

The baby’s father remains unknown, and prosecutors said Horvath Jr is not believed to be the father.

That leaves investigators and prosecutors facing a series of unanswered questions about what happened during the hours surrounding the newborn’s death.

TWO OTHER WOMEN REMAIN ON BAIL

The investigation has not ended with the five defendants.

Two other women, aged 26 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of murder but remain on bail.

No murder charge has been announced against them at this stage.

Police have urged the public not to speculate or share information online that could interfere with the legal proceedings.

TRIAL SET FOR 2027

Judge Sarah Wright has scheduled the trial to begin on April 12, 2027.

It is expected to last between six and seven weeks.

The defendants have been remanded in custody, with another hearing scheduled for October 2, 2026.

For now, the central questions remain unanswered.

Who was responsible for Baby S’s death?

What happened inside the property after she died?

And, perhaps most importantly, what exactly do prosecutors allege was done to conceal what happened?

Those questions will ultimately have to be answered in court.

Until then, the allegations remain just that — allegations.