A newborn baby girl found dead on top of a washing machine in Sheffield has been formally named as Maria Skopova, as an inquest heard that she suffered 33 wounds inflicted in 15 separate stabbings. Her 20-year-old mother and three other adults are awaiting trial, accused of her murder.

Maria, previously referred to as Baby S during court proceedings, died on the day she was born, August 30, at a property in Holywell Heights, in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.

Her body was discovered wrapped in a towel and placed inside a blue bag on top of a washing machine in an outhouse. Prosecutors previously told the court that the infant had suffered catastrophic injuries caused by a knife.

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Pictured: Andrea Skopova, a 20-year-old Slovak-national, who is accused of murdering her newborn daughter Maria Skopova on August 30

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Police forensics at the home where Maria Skopova – previously referred to as Baby S in court -was found dead

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Skopova’s boyfriend, Peter Horvath Jr, has also been charged with murder

Inquest adjourned while criminal proceedings continue

Senior Coroner Tanyka Rawden formally opened the inquest at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre before adjourning proceedings until March 25.

The coroner said further inquiries into Maria’s death were continuing and that she would review the evidence gathered by that date before deciding how the inquest should proceed.

She confirmed that emergency services had attended the scene and that paramedics had pronounced Maria dead. The baby was identified following police inquiries.

The inquest has been postponed while the criminal case against the defendants moves forward.

Mother and three adults charged with murder

Maria’s mother, Andrea Skopova, a 20-year-old Slovak national, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court last month alongside three other adults charged with the baby’s murder.

The defendants are Skopova’s boyfriend, Peter Horvath Jr, 19; Peter Horvath Sr, 38; and Nina Horvathova, 37.

All four adults face additional charges of causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice. The latter charge relates to allegations that the scene of the suspected crime was cleaned.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice.

The four adult defendants were remanded in custody pending a further hearing, while the teenager was remanded in youth custody.

A trial expected to last up to seven weeks is scheduled to begin on April 12.

All defendants are accused of offences and have not been established as guilty through a trial.

How Maria’s body was discovered

At an earlier court hearing, prosecutor Luke Hopkinson outlined the circumstances surrounding Maria’s birth and discovery.

He told the court that Skopova gave birth to the baby at approximately 37 weeks of pregnancy during the early hours of August 30. Shortly afterwards, the mother attended hospital.

Medical staff were confident that she was no longer pregnant, prompting concerns about the whereabouts of the newborn. Police were alerted shortly after 5am.

Officers initially attended an address but were unable to locate the baby. They subsequently checked the property in Holywell Heights, where they discovered Maria’s body in the outhouse.

Mr Hopkinson told the court that the infant had been wrapped in towelling and placed inside a blue bag on top of a washing machine.

He described the injuries as catastrophic, telling the hearing that Maria had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings.

Father remains unidentified

During the earlier proceedings, prosecutors confirmed that Skopova was Maria’s mother, but the identity of the baby’s father was not known.

Police forensic officers examined the property as part of their investigation into the newborn’s death.

The coroner confirmed that Maria’s identity had been established after her death through police inquiries.

With the criminal proceedings still ongoing, further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses through the courts.

For now, the inquest remains adjourned until March 25, while the four adult defendants and the teenage girl face the charges brought against them.