Mother accused of throwing baby daughter from window pictured
This is the first photo of a woman charged with murdering her 18-day-old daughter after the baby fell from a residential property.
Zahira Byjaouane, 43, was not asked to enter a plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday and spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address during the minutes-long hearing.
Her case was deemed too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court and was sent to the Old Bailey, where she is due to appear on Wednesday.
Police officers attended Horseferry Road in Westminster, central London, on Saturday morning, following reports that an infant had fallen from a building, the Metropolitan Police said over the weekend.
The baby girl was pronounced dead in the hospital. Flowers and a toy animal were left near the Peabody Estate building on Sunday morning, where a police cordon had been lifted.
Pictures of the scene on Saturday afternoon showed forensics officers appearing to measure an open window while working in a third-floor flat on the Peabody Estate.
DCI Alison Foxwell said: ‘Our thoughts today are with the baby’s family.
‘The death of an infant is always an extremely tragic occurrence, and officers are making urgent enquiries into the circumstances.
‘At this stage, we believe the incident occurred within a domestic context, but we are appealing for anybody with information to come forward.’
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said the baby was treated on the scene before being transferred to a major trauma centre.
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