Sukhpreet Singh and Ramandeep Kaur accused of hiding newborn’s body in Canada, mother found in critical condition
A newborn baby who had been missing since Friday was found dead in a wooded area near Halifax, Canada, on Sunday.Police have accused two relatives of the baby’s mother of hiding the child’s body and obstructing the investigation.Halifax Regional Police said the baby’s remains were found in woods near Old Coach Road in Goodwood around 3:20 p.m.The accused, 23-year-old Sukhpreet Singh and his wife, 26-year-old Ramandeep Kaur, are scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on Monday. Police said Singh was related to the 23-year-old woman, who was taken to hospital in critical condition shortly after giving birth.Both face charges of concealing a child’s body, obstructing justice and indignity to a corpse.The investigation began Friday night after hospital staff notified police that a young woman had arrived at the hospital in life-threatening condition and appeared to have recently given birth, but there was no baby with her.Emergency services were called earlier to a home on Willett Street in Clayton Park, where the woman was found and taken to hospital. Police subsequently searched the property but were unable to find the newborn.Staff Sgt. Pierre Bourdages said four people known to the woman were detained for questioning over the weekend. The two were later released, while Singh and Kaur were charged.Nova Scotia Forensic Services is expected to conduct an autopsy to determine the baby’s identity and the cause and manner of death.The woman remains in critical condition at the hospital, but investigators do not believe her injuries were caused by violence, police said.“Police believe the woman experienced a medical emergency but do not believe her condition was the result of violence,” Halifax Regional Police said in a statement.Burdage said investigators have not yet been able to speak with the woman due to her health condition.The discovery of the baby’s body shocked society.“Our officers have young families, our officers have young babies,” Burdage said Sunday outside police headquarters.They added: “This is difficult for everyone in the community. It is difficult for everyone in the department.”
