Baby in drain: Perth mother who allegedly hid her baby’s body in drain suffers with disability and is ‘vulnerable’

A mother who allegedly hid her deceased baby’s body in a stormwater drain suffers a significant intellectual disability and is extremely vulnerable, a court has been told.

The woman, who cannot be identified, is charged with concealing the birth of a deceased child and had her matter heard in the Perth Magistrates Court for the first time on Friday.

Maintenance workers cleaning drains in Perth’s north found the body of a newborn baby boy by chance on August 18.

It sparked a major police investigation as authorities tried to determine the circumstances of the baby’s death.

Police believed the body had been placed in the drain within days of it being found by tradesman clearing drains of blockages.

A woman came forward to police in the days after the tragic discovery.

Defence lawyer Karen Farley told the court her client had a significant intellectual disability, a mental health diagnosis and was receiving ongoing hospital treatment.

She asked for her client’s identity to be suppressed to keep her physically and mentally safe.

“She is an extremely vulnerable woman,” Ms Farley said.

A Disability Services Commission report handed to the court found the accused had an IQ score in the extremely low range.

“I acknowledge the accused person does have significant and complex disabilities that include an intellectual disability and mental health diagnosis,” Magistrate Elisabeth Langdon said.

Ms Langdon adjourned the matter until October 24.