A mother has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment in the Borana Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia, after being convicted of attempting to kill her newborn daughter by forcing her into a latrine. The Borana Zone Police Department’s Women and Children’s Affairs Office confirmed the ruling following a swift judicial process.
The Borana Zone High Court handed down the verdict against the defendant, identified as Megertu Gashu, finding her guilty of premeditated attempted infanticide. According to Commander Wegaye Dido, head of the Women and Children’s Affairs Office, the court determined that the mother intentionally planned to end the life of her newborn just days after giving birth.
The incident occurred in the Dilo District of the Borana Zone. Megertu had safely delivered a baby girl; however, days later, she secretly took the infant to a latrine and attempted to force the baby headfirst into the pit. Local residents heard the infant’s distressed cries and rushed to the scene, catching the mother red-handed and successfully rescuing the child from the pit.
Following her immediate arrest, local police transferred the newborn to a medical facility for urgent treatment. Investigators built a comprehensive evidence file against Megertu and forwarded the case to the public prosecutor, who officially charged her with attempted murder.
The infant has now fully recovered thanks to timely medical intervention. Authorities stated that the baby girl is currently in good health and will be placed with a legal guardian or adoptive parents in accordance with the law.