M'sian woman, 22, who hid her newborn baby girl in cereal box, convicted of murder in Britain

A 22-year-old Malaysian student, who hid her newborn baby girl in a cereal box just after giving birth, has been convicted of murder in Britain.

Teo Jia Xin pleaded guilty to the charge after the body of the baby was found stuffed in a cereal box and hidden in a suitcase.

Teo had carried the baby to full term and gave birth on Mar. 4, 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said, BBC reported.

Gave birth in student residence

She gave birth on the bathroom floor in the en suite bathroom of her bedroom in the student halls of her residence, The Guardian reported.

The newborn baby was alive when born and was placed in a cereal box that was then put in a sealable plastic bag and placed into a suitcase.

After her deed was discovered, Teo told police her baby had survived “at least a number of minutes” and was still moving when she placed her into the box and bag.

She is due to be sentenced on Oct. 25, Sky News reported.

How she got found out

Teo had kept her pregnancy a secret.

After giving birth, she refused help when a university friend staying in the same accommodation forced entry to her room.

Teo's bed was found “covered in blood” and she refused to come out of the bathroom.

When an ambulance was called, Teo declined medical treatment and paramedics left.

She later went to hospital by taxi when her condition deteriorated.

Teo denied having given birth when questioned by hospital staff, who recognised the signs of childbirth.

When a pregnancy test came back positive, it drew suspicion that Teo might have abandoned the baby.

The police were called.

The baby was only discovered two days later when Teo admitted to what she had done.

The infant was found in her bedroom in a suitcase that her flatmates had earlier helped to move.

Prosecutors said Teo knew the child would die after being placed in the box.

"She chose to keep her pregnancy a secret and gave birth alone. She also lied to her concerned friends, to hospital doctors, and to the police to prevent anyone from discovering her baby," a prosecutor said.

"She did not tell the police where she hid her baby until two days had passed by which time the baby would certainly be dead.”

Why she did it

Teo reportedly concealed her pregnancy out of fear that her family and friends in Malaysia would find out, which she believed could affect her studies.

Teo's defence was that she had been hearing voices instructing her to dispose of the baby.

A jury at Warwick Crown Court rejected her defence.

Prosecutors also said Teo had arrived in Britain knowing that she would likely give birth and had the opportunity to seek help.

Top photo via West Midlands Police