Sky News dẫn thông cáo của cảnh sát cho hay: "Một phụ nữ bị buộc tội cố ý giết người sau khi con của cô ta được phát hiện dưới cống ở tây Sydney hôm 23/11".

Cảnh sát cho biết đứa trẻ được tin chào đời hôm 10/11 và bị bỏ lại dưới cống hôm 18/11. Mẹ của bé trai này, 30 tuổi, người Australia, được xác định danh tính bằng việc kiểm tra hồ sơ lưu trữ trong bệnh viện và thẩm vấn từng nhà ở vùng ngoại ô Quakers Hill, thành phố Sydney.

Theo điều tra viên David  Lagats, bé trai không có dấu hiệu bị thương nhưng bị đói và mất nước.

"Đứa nhỏ được quấn trong chiếc chăn kẻ giống như những gì người ta thường mặc cho các em bé trong bệnh viện. Dây rốn của bé đã được cắt và kẹp chặt, và có vẻ nạn nhân đã được chăm sóc y tế từ lúc sinh", Lagats nói.

Cảnh sát nghi ngờ em bé bị nhét qua khe hẹp của cống và rơi xuống dưới. Sydney đang vào thời điểm nóng bức với mức nhiệt trên 30 độ C và đứa trẻ được tin là sẽ không sống nổi nếu không được tìm thấy sớm. Hiện bé được chăm sóc tại Bệnh viện Nhi Westmead.

Sáu người đàn ông, trong đó có 3 cảnh sát, mới nhấc được nắp cống lên và cứu đứa bé ra ngoài. Ảnh: Mirror.

Trước đó một người tên là David Otte đã nghe thấy âm thanh lạ phát ra từ dưới cống ở Sydney hôm 23/11 khi đang đạp xe cùng con gái. Sau khi nhấc nắp cống xi măng lên, họ phát hiện nạn nhân đang nằm dưới đáy cống sâu 2,5 m và được quấn trong chiếc chăn của bệnh viện.

"Thực sự là lúc đầu chúng tôi nghĩ đó là tiếng mèo, nhưng khi tới gần, chúng tôi có thể nghe chính xác đấy là tiếng gì. Đó là tiếng khóc của một đứa trẻ", nhân chứng kể.

Theo Sky News, mẹ của bé bị buộc tội cố ý giết người. Cô ta không được phép bảo lãnh tại ngoại và sẽ ra tòa vào hôm nay.

Bình Minh

vnexpress.net

Newborn baby found down drain in Quakers Hill by passing cyclists, mother identified as 30-year-old
ASHLEE MULLANY AND AAP THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NOVEMBER 23, 2014 9:00PM

The malnourished baby boy was found abandoned at the bottom of a 2.4m drain, covered by a concrete slab, after a cyclist and his daughter heard the baby’s screams early Sunday morning.

It took six men, including three police officers, to lift the 200kg slab and rescue the tiny baby, who was still wrapped in his hospital blanket.

Police were questioning the boy’s 30-year-old-mother, who is expected to be charged with attempted murder.

They are still trying to determine exactly when the boy was dumped in the drain, but believe he may have been there since Tuesday.

Cyclist David Otte and daughter Hayley found a baby boy while riding along a bike track beside the M7. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia

Video clip:
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2014/11/23/mother-questioned-over-baby-abandonment.html#ooid=Q0a3Z1cTqW4unNAv2JAcR9ZV_uprJWjh

David Otte was cycling on the shared path on the M7 with his 18-year-old daughter Hayley when they heard a strange noise coming from the drain at about 7.30am.

“We actually thought it was a kitten at first, but when we went down there we could hear exactly what it was, you could definitely tell it was a baby screaming,” Mr Otte said.

“We’re just thinking about the little fella, he’s a beautiful, beautiful baby.”

Mr Otte and other cyclists quickly contacted police, who rushed to the scene to help with the rescue.

Senior Constable Mark McAlister was among the first on the scene and helped to move the slab, before climbing into the drain with another detective to rescue the baby.

“It was a bit surreal actually,” Sen Const McAlister said.

“How could someone do it? I, myself, have kids and we’re expecting a baby in a few more months so it’s not good that someone’s going through this and has done this to a little one.”

Inside the drain you get a clearer indication of the 2.4m drop the child enduredafter being dumped beside the M7. Picture Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia

Westlink M7 staff use a crane to put the cover back onto the drain after it was removed earlier to save the baby. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia

Constable Patrick Morgan, who only joined the police force 12 weeks ago, also helped with the rescue effort.

“I just couldn’t believe a baby was down there. I was in shock. Luckily there was a lot of people here to help,” Constable Morgan said.

“I’m just glad he’s okay.”

Mr Otte delivered baby clothes to Westmead Children’s Hospital yesterday afternoon, where the baby remains in a serious but stable condition.

Police believe the boy had been pushed through a small opening to the drain and were concerned he may have suffered internal injuries from the fall.

A photo of the baby boy in Sen Const McAlister’s arms was widely circulated on social media yesterday as police appealed for the baby’s parents to come forward.

Patrick Morgan, Mark McAllister and Darren McIntyre were the first police officers on the scene. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia

Yesterday afternoon, the woman from Quakers Hill met with detectives at Blacktown Police Station, where she was interviewed for several hours.

Inspector David Lagats from Quakers Hill Police said it would be unlikely the child would have survived in the drain yesterday, given temperature topped 40 degrees.

“He was already malnourished and dehydration would have taken effect so I would have had grave fears for the child’s welfare had it been exposed to this weather for the rest of the day,” Insp Lagats said.

Lisa Charet, district director from the Department of Families and Community Services, said it was likely the child would be released from hospital into the care of the state.

“When this sort of thing happens, people are in a place of desperation,” Ms Charet said.

David Otte and his daughter Hayley, as well as her mum Michelle, dropped off three sets of baby clothes, a new baby blanket and a face washer and towel.

“We wanted to see him, but the hospital said we weren’t able to at the moment,” Mr Otte said outside of hospital.

“We’d all really love a chance to see him again. Today has been such an emotional experience for everyone.”

Mrs Otte said the family was moved to give the little boy the gifts because “he really doesn’t have anything”.

“We have family, we have each other. He didn’t have anything.”

Some of the cyclists who found him saw an Indian male in an orange shirt walking on the cycle track moments after they heard the baby’s cries.

Senior-Constable Mark McAlister was among the first on the scene and climbed into the drain with another detective to pull the distressed baby out.

“When I arrived there were several bike riders, cyclists and pedestrians standing around the drain. Myself and several other police have come up, we heard something coming from the drain,” Sen-Constable McAlister said.

“At least six of us have then lifted up the concrete drain lid, when we’ve opened it we’ve sighted the small baby wrapped up in a hospital blanket. He appeared very young.

“How could someone do it? I, myself, have kids and we’re expecting a baby in a few more months so it’s not good that someone’s going through this and has done this to a little one.

“It was a bit surreal really. It’s great that someone actually stopped and heard it and had the initiative to give us a call.”

A photo of the baby boy in Sen-Constable McAlister’s arms has been widely circulated on social media this morning as police attempt to find the baby’s parents.

Lisa Charet, district director from the Department of Families and Community Services, said it was likely the child would be released from hospital into the care of the state.

“At this stage we are really worried about his welfare and mum’s. We can give her the help and support that she needs. She must be feeling enormously distressed,” Ms Charet said.

The child’s cry was heard coming from beneath the concrete slab to the right. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source:News Corp Australia

“When this sort of thing happens, people are in a place of desperation.”

With temperatures tipped to peak above 40C in Western Sydney today there were concerns the child would have died if he had been found later in the day.

BUBS THAT WENT BEFORE...

August 2012: Six-week-old baby dumped on Joseph St, Lidcombe. Parents found arguing at Lidcombe station and child removed from family.

March 2013: Baby Ahn, abandoned hours after being born at Canterbury Hospital. 30-year-old Korean mother left him at the hospital.

April 2014: Baby "Mai", 18-month-old left on the doorstep of a Western Sydney home. Mother was taken to immigration detention but released on a bridging visa.

Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/

Mother questioned over baby abandonment

Updated: 10:10 pm, Sunday, 23 November 2014

A new born baby boy dropped more than two metres down a stormwater drain is in a serious condition as police question his 30-year-old mother.

The mother was picked up by police after investigators frantically cross-checked hospital records and doorknocked the homes of patients.

Police aren't sure how many hours the infant lay crying and abandoned in the dirty drain in Quakers Hill before a passing cyclist found him at 7.30am on Sunday.

The baby was discovered down the drain on the side of a bike track along the M7 motorway after cyclists heard cries.

Police suspect the baby, thought to be two or three days old, was squeezed through the drain's narrow opening and dropped about 2.4 metres.

After several people lifted the heavy slab, the baby boy - wrapped in a striped hospital blanket with his umbilical cord cut and clamped - was found at the bottom.

'It was disturbing (to see) how the child was placed in the drain,' Quakers Hill police Inspector David Lagats said.

'We all thought the worst but the baby was still alive.'

Inspector Lagats said there were no signs of physical injury but tests will be carried out to see if he suffered internal injuries.

Police doubt the baby would have survived as temperatures in Sydney's north west reached almost 40 degrees on Sunday.

'It was already undernourished, and dehydration would have taken affect so we would have had grave fears for the child's welfare had it been exposed to this weather for the rest of the day,' Insp Lagats said.

The baby remains in a serious but stable condition at Westmead Children's Hospital.

His 30-year-old mother is being questioned at Blacktown Police Station after being identified on Sunday afternoon.

The baby is now in the care of the NSW Family and Community Services (FACS) Minister.

It will be up to the state agency to assess how - or if - the mother and baby can be reunited.

FACS western Sydney director Lisa Charet said often with abandonments, people were in a place of depression.

'There's been cases where mothers have had post-natal depression, or those sorts of issues, or they're very young and they don't know where to go to for help,' she said.

Labor Senator Helen Polley has called for emergency hatches in places such as fire stations, police stations and hospitals where people could leave a baby 'without fear of criminal prosecution.'

Woman charged over baby found in drain

Updated: 5:13 am, Monday, 24 November 2014

A woman has been charged with attempted murder following the discovery of a newborn baby boy in a drain in Sydney's west.

The 30-year-old woman has been refused bail and is set to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Monday.

Despite earlier estimates that the boy was 2-3 days old, police will now allege that he is seven days old and was placed into the drain on Tuesday, 24 hours after being born.

If the allegation is true it means he has survived in the drain for five days before being found by a passing cyclist on Sunday morning.

The baby is now in a serious but stable condition at the Westmead Children's Hospital.

Police suspect the baby was squeezed through the drain's narrow opening and dropped about 2.4 metres.

After he was found on Sunday, several people lifted the heavy slab covering the drain to get him out.

The baby is now in the care of the NSW Family and Community Services (FACS) Minister.

It will be up to the state agency to assess what now happens to him.

http://www.skynews.com.au

Call for hatches to save abandoned babies

Updated: 6:40 pm, Sunday, 23 November 2014

The abandonment of a baby boy in western Sydney drain has sparked renewed calls for emergency hatches to be rolled out nationally.

A group of cyclists riding on a bike track beside the M7 highway at Quakers Hill heard his cries from the 2.5 metre drain around 7.30am on Sunday.

Police who rescued the baby said there were no signs of physical injury, but said he was malnourished.

Believed to be just two or three days old, the baby remains in a serious but stable condition at Westmead Children's Hospital.

Germany and Canada are among countries that have baby hatches, mostly attached to hospitals, where parents can safely place unwanted babies, and trigger an alarm to alert staff.

Labor Senator Helen Polley believes the idea has merit and has called for a national response.

Baby abandonment is currently treated as a criminal offence, with parents liable for prosecution.

Senator Polley wants baby safe havens established across the country in places such as fire stations, police stations and hospitals.

'Here, a parent could legally abandon a baby without fear of criminal prosecution,' she said.

'Let's make sure mothers and babies are provided (with)... the compassion of a modern society.'

OTHER ABANDONED BABIES

2013 baby left outside ambulance station in Rockhampton, Qld

2013 baby, nicknamed Moses, left outside a family's home in Logan, Qld

2011 baby Willow found dead in a Kingston park, Tasmania.

2007 baby Catherine left outside Dandenong hospital, Victoria

2007 baby Joan left on the doorstep of a Sydney church

- AAP

Drain baby woman remains behind bars

Updated: 12:16 pm, Monday, 24 November 2014

A 30-year-old woman accused of attempted murder following the discovery of a baby boy in a drain in Sydney's west will remain behind bars until her next court appearance.

Saifale Nai did not appear for the brief hearing at Blacktown Local Court on Monday.

The court heard she will appear at Penrith Local Court on Friday.

No application for bail was made and it was formally refused.

Despite earlier estimates that the boy was two to three days old, police later said that he is seven days old and ha been placed in the Quakers Hill drain on Tuesday, 24 hours after being born.

If the allegation is true, it means he survived in the drain for five days before being found by a passing cyclist on Sunday morning.

The baby is now in a stable condition at Westmead Children's Hospital.

Police suspect the baby was squeezed through the stormwater drain's narrow opening and dropped about 2.4 metres.

After he was heard screaming on Sunday, several people lifted the heavy slab covering the drain to get him out.

The baby is now in the care of the NSW Family and Community Services (FACS) Minister.

It will be up to the state agency to assess what now happens to him.

The baby was discovered, wrapped in a striped hospital blanket, down the drain on the side of a bike track along the M7 motorway just after 7.30am.

Police doubt he would have survived Sunday's 40 degree-heat.

'It was already undernourished, and dehydration would have taken affect, so we would have had grave fears for the child's welfare had it been exposed to this weather for the rest of the day,' Inspector David Lagats said.

Cyclist David Otte, out riding with his daughter, said he was meant to find the little boy.

'We were meant to be there I think,' Mr Otte, from Rydalmere, said on Monday.

'We're not heroes or anything. We would have done it for anybody but we were just glad that we were there,' he told Melbourne radio 3AW.

Mr Otte said two men who had heard a strange noise coming from a drain about 150 metres from Quakers Road had flagged him down.

'It's a pretty unmistakable cry when you hear a baby crying.'

http://www.skynews.com.au