N.B. woman knew what she was doing while disposing of newborn: psychiatrist
Last Updated: Friday, December 14, 2007 | 4:33 PM AT
CBC News
A New Brunswick woman who put the body of her newborn son into a fire pit was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time, a psychiatrist told her sentencing hearing on Friday.
Dr. Mubeen Jahangir told the court that Becky Sue Morrow knew she was pregnant and knew what she did was wrong when she gave birth and then implemented a plan to dispose of the infant.
Morrow, 27, pleaded guilty in June to offering an indignity to a newborn and disposing of a dead body with the intent of concealing her delivery.
Jahangir assessed Morrow for 60 days.
As a Crown witness, Jahangir is countering testimony previously presented by defence witness Dr. Patricia Adele Pearce who said Morrow was in a dissociated state at the time of the incident.
Pearce had told the court that Morrow was in denial about her pregnancy and going into labour while on her bathroom toilet triggered the psychological state.
After the birth, Morrow put the baby boy in a box in her bedroom and later burned that box in a fire pit.
It has never been determined if the baby was alive when it was placed in the fire, however the body was mutilated and some of the remains were placed under a shed.
According to statements that Morrow gave police, the infant died of natural causes either before, during or directly after birth before 3 a.m. on March 12, in the bathroom of the Old Ridge home she shared with a female roommate.
Morrow also told police she attempted to incinerate the body in her backyard before going to work, according to statements previously presented to the court.
When asked by police if she believed no one would find out about her pregnancy, she said, "Yes."
It was Morrow's second pregnancy. She had also tried to conceal the previous pregnancy before she gave birth to a child in 2005 who is no longer in her custody.
Morrow told police she was embarrassed about becoming pregnant a second time.
The newborn's body was discovered by Morrow's roommate and some guests who inspected the backyard because they were suspicious of her behaviour and sudden weight loss.
Morrow was surrounded by family in the St. Stephen court on Friday and cried during Jahangir's testimony.
Defence lawyer Brian Ferguson has argued that Morrow should not be held criminally responsible for the crimes.
The hearing has adjourned until Jan. 11 when the court will hear the lawyers' closing arguments.
