Newborn baby Maria Skopova suffered 33 wounds in Sheffield killing, inquest hears

A newborn baby girl found dead in an outhouse in Sheffield suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings, an inquest into her death has heard.

Maria Skopova, previously referred to in court as Baby S, died on the day she was born, August 30, at Holywell Heights in the Wincobank area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden opened the inquest on Thursday before adjourning proceedings until March 25 because related criminal proceedings remain ongoing.

Four adults are due to stand trial in April accused of Maria’s murder. They are Andrea Skopova, 20; Peter Horvath, 19; Peter Horvath, 38; and Nina Horvathova, 37.

The four defendants are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and with perverting the course of justice over allegations that the scene was cleaned after Maria’s death.

A 15-year-old girl has separately been charged with perverting the course of justice.

The allegations have not yet been proven in court, and the defendants are awaiting trial.