Baby death mother back in custody

Leah Andrew, from Hither Green, south-east London, was readmitted to hospital for tests after fainting on Thursday night at the end of a six-hour court hearing.

She has been charged with murder after allegedly killing her baby moments after giving birth in a Malia hotel room.

On Thursday in Heraklion, Crete's capital, she was ordered by a magistrate to serve pre-trial detention. It is understood this could last up to a year.

After fainting, Andrew, who has two other young children, was taken from court at about 8pm on a stretcher, covered in a foil blanket.

Iraklio University State Hospital spokesman Dr Christos Melas said: "She was examined by a cardiologist and a pathologist. Both doctors said she didn't have anything wrong with her and she returned to police custody."

He said her father, Isaac, and an aunt were with her. 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.

Police found the dead baby, weighing 5lb 8oz, in a room on the island's Natali hotel in the early hours of Monday morning. A coroner said the baby, which was discovered wrapped in sheets, showed signs of suffocation.

Andrew had been on a night out with her 24-year-old sister, Lydia, and a friend, before returning to the hotel room alone at about 3.30am, where she gave birth.