A woman has denied the murder of a baby who was discovered in woodland near Gullier’s World theme park 26 years ago.
Baby Callum who was found nearby the theme park in Warrington in March 1998, was believed to have been only hours old at the time of his death.
Joanne Sharkey, 55, of West Derby, Liverpool, was charged with murdering the baby and endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child in April this year.
Appearing at Liverpool Crown Courty on Thursday, wearing a black blazer with patterned top and her hair clipped up pleaded not guilty to both counts.
According to the charge, Sharkey is accused of murdering the ‘infant child, subsequently named as baby Callum’ between January 1 and March 14 1998.
Joanne Sharkey, 55, of West Derby, Liverpool, (pictured) was charged with murdering ‘Baby Callum’ and endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child
Appearing at Liverpool Crown Courty on Thursday, wearing a black blazer with patterned top and her hair clipped up pleaded not guilty to both counts
Baby Callum was found by a dog walker wrapped in a plastic black bag and weighing 7lb and 8oz. He is believed to have been only hours old when he died (pictured: his casket at St Elphin’s church)
The court heard a trial, expected to last four weeks, has been listed for January.
Sharkey, who sat with her head bowed in the brief hearing, was released on conditional bail ahead of a pre-trial review hearing on October 18.
Detectives named the infant Callum after the Callands district of Warrington where he was found, as his true identity could not be confirmed.
He was discovered by a dog walker in the area wrapped in a black plastic bag and weighing 7lb and 8oz.
Locals donated money to help pay for the baby’s funeral and a headstone which was inscribed: ‘Baby Callum, precious child of God. Laid to rest July 27, 1998. With love, from the people of Warrington.’
150 mourners attended Warrington Cemetery for the funeral service a few months later.
Detectives named the infant Callum after the Callands district of Warrington where he was found, nearby Gulliver’s World theme park (pictured)
Sharkey was released on conditional bail ahead of a pre-trial review hearing on October 18
Following his death, an investigation was carried out which saw the DNA of nearly 500 women tested, including a number of schoolgirls.
Thousands more women and girls were spoken to as part of the investigation, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Detective Inspector Hannah Friend, of Cheshire Police’s Major Crime Review Team, previously appealed for people not to speculate online about the ‘extremely emotional case.’
‘Criminal proceedings are now active against Joanne Sharkey, and she has the right to a fair trial,’ the officer said. ‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
