A British mother accused of suffocating her newborn baby in a Crete hotel plans to appeal against a court decision to hold her in custody until her trial, her lawyer said today.

Leah Andrew, from Hither Green, south London, was taken to prison this morning after she was remanded in custody last night.

A trial is not likely to take place for at least a year.

Andrew, 20, who has two other children, fainted at the end of the six-hour hearing in Heraklion, Crete's capital.

Enlarge 

Greek police and medics escort Leah Andrew to the ambulance after she collapsed

Leah Andrew arriving at the courthouse yesterday before her six-hour interrogation

Enlarge 

Holiday tragedy: Leah Andrews pictured on a night out

She was being kept under police guard in hospital after suffering from extensive bleeding, but was rushed back yesterday when she collapsed. She has since been returned to police custody.

She has been ordered to serve a pre-trial detention after hospital treatment. It is understood this could last up to a year.

Police found the dead baby, weighing 5lb 8oz, in a room in the Natali hotel, Malia, in the early hours of Monday morning.

A coroner said the baby, which was discovered wrapped in sheets, showed signs of suffocation.

Andrew, of Hither Green, south east London, was taken by police from Iraklion University Hospital to give evidence at today's hearing.

She was being kept under police guard at the hospital, where she was taken after suffering extensive bleeding.

Police denied she was put on suicide watch and said she was being guarded by two officers simply because she was under arrest.

After she collapsed yesterday evening she was rushed back to the hospital.

Hospital spokesman Dr Christos Melas said: "She was examined yesterday night by a cardiologist and a pathologist.

"Both doctors said she didn't have anything wrong with her and she returned to police custody.

"She had said she wasn't feeling well. She underwent a lot of tests, as is protocol, but nothing was found."

He said her father, Isaac, and an aunt were with her, and she was released from the hospital at about 11pm.

Before the private hearing, Mr Andrew, 54, told reporters: "My daughter did not kill her child. I cannot say (what happened) because I was not there, but what they are accusing her of doing I don't think she did."

He said he and his wife had known she was pregnant for about two months.
"In the beginning we did not like the idea, but she told us she wanted to keep the baby so we helped."

On Sunday, 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, despite being just two weeks short of her due date.

She returned to the hotel at around 3.30am, where she gave birth alone.

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

They did not open it but called the police.

It is believed 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."

In Greece, infanticide does not carry a life sentence.