Couple buried secret baby in unmarked grave

The baby is believed to have died of respiratory complications within about two hours. Photo / iStock

A young couple concealed their relationship and the premature birth and death of a baby girl five years ago because of concerns about shaming their families, the Dunedin District Court has heard.

The baby was born in the mother's bedroom. It was premature, about 36 weeks, and is believed to have died of respiratory complications within about two hours.

The baby's body was secretly buried in an unmarked grave in the backyard of the father's Oamaru home. But it was found and exhumed in September last year after Dunedin police began investigating the matter because of rumours circulating around the town.

The two defendants were interviewed soon afterwards and spoke freely about concealing their relationship and about their involvement in concealing the circumstances of their daughter's birth and death.

Police consulted a neonatal expert about the likely cause of death. The expert's opinion was the child was born prematurely at about 36 weeks' gestation and most likely died of respiratory distress syndrome and hypothermia within two hours of birth.

The expert also concluded the baby was unlikely to have survived by the time the mother noticed its distress, even if medical help had been sought at that time.

A 23-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man appeared before Judge Michael Crosbie today and admitted disposing of the baby's body on or before February 5, 2011 with intent to conceal the fact of the birth.

At the request of counsel, Judge Crosbie continued the order suppressing the names of the two defendants who are due to be sentenced on March 22.

And he ordered a Department of Corrections psychological report on the female defendant.