BABITA RAI FROM ALDERSHOT GUILTY OF INFANTICIDE AFTER KILLING NEWBORN AND DUMPING BODY IN PARK BUSH

In a tragic and deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Aldershot, Hampshire, a 24-year-old woman named Babita Rai has been found guilty of infanticide following the death of her newborn daughter. The incident, which took place in May 2017, involved Rai secretly giving birth to her child in a secluded area near Aldershot Park and then deliberately causing her fatal injuries before abandoning the tiny body among the undergrowth.

Babita Rai, who was employed as a care home worker at the time, was responsible for the death of her infant daughter, who was under the age of 12 months. The court heard that Rai inflicted multiple blows to the baby’s skull, deliberately and with intent, resulting in fatal injuries. The attack was so severe that expert witnesses testified the injuries were caused by repeated blunt force impacts or significant crushing injuries. The evidence indicated that these injuries could not have been accidental, nor could they have resulted from the baby falling or any other accidental cause. The baby survived the initial assault for a period estimated to be between two and twelve hours, with the likelihood being closer to just two hours, and was less than six hours old at the time of her death.

The tragic discovery was made two days after the baby’s death when the park’s keeper found the infant’s body hidden among the bushes behind a fence in Aldershot Park. The child was initially unidentified and was referred to by police as Baby M. The court heard that the injuries sustained by the infant were the result of deliberate acts, not accidental trauma during labor or subsequent falls. The expert testimony emphasized that the injuries were inflicted with intent, and the baby’s survival time after the assault was brief.

At the time of the incident, Rai was only 20 years old and had concealed her pregnancy for several months. She had given birth secretly under a nearby tree during the night, having kept her pregnancy hidden from border officials, her general practitioner, and her colleagues at a restaurant where she previously worked. Rai had moved to the UK from Nepal six months prior to the birth, and her sister had accompanied her from Nepal. The two women had gone to live with family opposite Aldershot Park.

During the trial, Rai’s defense argued that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had no memory of the events leading to her baby’s death. Despite this, the jury found her guilty of infanticide, a charge that recognizes the responsibility of a mother for the death of her child under the age of 12 months. The judge, Mr. Justice Johnson, expressed his appreciation for the jury’s careful deliberation, describing the case as “distressing and of the utmost importance.”

Following the verdict, the judge adjourned the case until July 19 to allow for a report on Rai’s mental state and background to be prepared. Rai, who resides on Reeves Road in Aldershot, was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The judge noted that while all custody options would be considered, historically, non-custodial penalties are often imposed in similar cases, though the final decision would depend on further assessments.