A mother has appeared before a court alongside three other Slovakian nationals accused of murdering her newborn daughter, who prosecutors allege was stabbed repeatedly and left on top of a washing machine.
The baby, known in earlier hearings as Baby S, has since been identified as Maria Skopova. She died on the day she was born in Sheffield.
Maria was discovered on August 30, wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag in an outbuilding at a property in Holywell Heights, Wincobank.
A post-mortem examination found that the infant had suffered 33 injuries, including wounds to her face, body and back.
Andrea Skopova, 20, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court with Peter Horvath Jr, 19, his father Peter Horvath Sr, 38, and his mother Nina Horvathova, 37.
All four defendants, who are Slovakian nationals, have been charged with Maria’s murder.
They also face allegations of causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice, linked to claims that the scene was cleaned.
A fifth defendant, a 15-year-old girl who cannot be identified because of her age, has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Andrea Skopova, 20, a Slovakian national accused of murdering her newborn daughter Maria Skopova on August 30
Peter Horvath Jr, Skopova’s boyfriend, is also facing a murder charge
Forensic officers at the Sheffield property where Maria Skopova, previously known in court as Baby S, was found dead
The defendants have not entered pleas. A provisional trial date has been set for April next year.
The four adults sat in the glass-fronted dock and followed the hearing through Slovakian interpreters, while numerous relatives watched from the public gallery.
At the start of the hearing, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, the Recorder of Sheffield, addressed the gallery following emotional scenes at an earlier appearance.
He reminded those present that the hearing was taking place in a court and said: ‘It is an important hearing and this is a court. There are one or two matters I want to call to the attention of those in the public gallery.
‘First, I emphasise this is a court. It is governed by the rule of law and there will be good order in the proceedings.
‘It is not a therapy session. It is not a public bar. It is a court. It is very important that dignity is maintained throughout.
‘There will be no waving at defendants, there will be no emotional outpourings and anyone who is unable to comply with those simple requirements of good order had better leave now.’
The judge also warned the defendants that they could be taken back to the cells if they failed to behave appropriately during proceedings.
He told them: ‘As I am sure you appreciate, this is a very serious matter.
‘This is a court and appropriate behaviour is required. I do not want any of you to be waving or communicating with those in the public gallery. You need to concentrate on these proceedings.
‘I emphasise this is a court and appropriate order will be maintained throughout these proceedings.
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‘I have warned the public gallery in similar terms. If they in any way, shape or form misbehave, the public gallery will be cleared.
‘There will be no second chance. Likewise, if a defendant is unable to control themselves, they too will go to the cells.
‘I have no desire whatever to execute either of those policy decisions.’
Maria was discovered after police responded to reports raising concerns for the safety of an infant at the Holywell Heights property.
At an earlier magistrates’ court hearing, prosecutors said Skopova was Maria’s mother.
The court was told the identity of the baby’s father was unknown and that Horvath Jr was not believed to be her father.
A trial expected to last between six and seven weeks is provisionally due to begin on April 12.
The crown court trial hearing was told that there was a large amount of bodycam and dashcam footage to be analysed.
At one point, some of the defendants were reprimanded for looking up to the public gallery.
Judge Richardson said: ‘Some of you are looking in the public gallery and not listening to me.
‘I want each of you to listen to me, please, not concentrate on the public gallery. This is very important. This affects your lives and your future and you will cooperate with the court.’
Skopova, of Robey Street in Grimesthorpe, Sheffield, and Horvath Jr, Horvath Sr and Horvathova, all of Holywell Heights, were remanded into custody.
The 15-year-old girl was remanded into youth custody.
A plea hearing was set for December 14.
Before ending the hearing, Judge Richardson told the defendants: ‘Each one of you is in custody. You are required to attend your trial.
‘Some defendants who are in custody think it will help them in some way if they sit in their cells at the prison and do not turn up.
‘Please think again if that should be your thinking because all that will happen is this – the trial would go on in your absence and you might find yourselves unrepresented.’
An inquest into Maria’s death was this week opened and adjourned in Sheffield.
Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden told the city’s Medico-Legal Centre: ‘Emergency services were called, paramedics attended and they sadly pronounced Maria deceased.
‘She was identified after death by means of police inquiries.’
Two women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail.