Funeral held for newborn baby girl allegedly stabbed to death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 21:31 · Archive

A funeral was held for newborn Maria Skopova, who was found dead in Sheffield on her birth day with 33 wounds from separate stabbings.

A funeral was held on Monday for newborn Maria Skopova at St Marie's Catholic Cathedral in Sheffield. The baby was found dead on 30 August, the day she was born, at a home in Holywell Heights in the Wincobank area of Sheffield, with 33 injuries caused by 15 separate stabbings.

Maria's mother Andrea Skopova, aged 20, her boyfriend Peter Horvath Jnr, aged 19, and his parents Peter Horvath Snr, aged 38, and Nina Horvathova, aged 37, have all been charged with murder. All four are Slovakian nationals and are remanded in custody. They are due to enter pleas on 14 December, with a trial provisionally set for April.

Around 50 mourners attended the funeral, which was conducted mainly in Slovakian, followed by a private family service at a cemetery in Sheffield. The Mirror reports that Maria's grandfather was seen breaking down in tears while holding the casket and kissing it before carrying it into the cathedral. A card placed alongside the casket read: 'For Baby Maria. The purest souls never stay too long in this world.' According to the BBC, Rev Fr Chris Posluszny, who led the service, said the infant's death had 'affected the family so hard'. Maria's mother, who is on remand, had asked to watch the service on YouTube from prison.

How it is being reported

• Grandfather's tears at funeral of baby 'stabbed 15 times' and found dead in outhouseTiny Maria Skopova was found with 33 wounds on the day of her birth in Holywell Heights, Sheffield - her mother is one of four people charged with her murderThe Mirror · 26 Oct, 21:12
• Funeral held for newborn baby girl who was 'stabbed 15 times and dumped on washing machine by mother and her boyfriend's family'Maria Skopova was found dead at a home in Holywell Heights, Sheffield, the same day she was born on August 30 having suffered 33 wounds.Daily Mail · 26 Oct, 20:05

In this story: Maria Skopova · Andrea Skopova · Peter Horvath Jnr · Peter Horvath Snr · Nina Horvathova · Sheffield · St Marie's Catholic Cathedral

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