Mother in court over baby's death

Leah Andrew has been charged with infanticide

A 20-year-old British woman has appeared in court in Crete charged with murdering her new-born baby.

Student Leah Andrew, from south London, faced a magistrate in Heraklion, the island's capital, on Thursday, and was remanded in custody.

Police found the dead baby in a hotel room in Malia in the early hours of Monday morning.

Ms Andrew was taken to hospital for tests after fainting on being told she would be held in a prison.

She was examined by doctors before being returned to police.

At first it was reported Ms Andrew was being held on the lesser charge of infanticide, but when she appeared in court prosecutors said she would face an allegation of murder.

Hotel birth

On Sunday, Ms Andrew was on a night out with her 24-year-old sister, Lydia, and a friend.

It is understood she had not told them she was pregnant, although she was two weeks short of her due date.

She returned to the hotel in the early hours of Monday, 21 July, where she gave birth alone.

Police said that when the sister and friend arrived at the room they saw a sheet with something inside and called the police.

A coroner said the baby showed signs of suffocation.

It is understood that Ms Andrew has two sons, aged three and 15 months, who are being looked after by her parents.

A Lewisham council spokeswoman said: "This is a very tragic situation and our thoughts are with the family."

"We will be supporting the family and working with them to ensure the safety and well-being of Miss Andrew's two other children."