Mother who 'murdered her newborn daughter with her boyfriend's family' weeps in court as trial over death of baby who was 'stabbed 15 times' at Sheffield home set for next year

A mother sobbed in the dock today as she appeared in court alongside four other Slovakians over the death of her newborn daughter, who was allegedly stabbed 15 times and dumped on top of a washing machine.Andrea Skopova, 20, is accused of murdering her baby girl in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on Sunday.She appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday with Peter Horvath Jnr, 19, Peter Horvath Snr, 38, and Nina Horvathova, 37. The five defendants, all Slovakian nationals, are accused either of the murder of a newborn named only as Baby S or of offences connected to her death including perverting the course of justice.The court heard that the little girl suffered 33 wounds - including on her face and back - in 15 'separate stabbings'.Magistrates were told the baby's body was found on top of a washing machine in an outhouse at an address in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.Police officers had responded to reports of a concern for the safety of an infant. Horvath Jnr, Horvath Snr and Horvathova, all of Holywell Heights, along with Skopova, of Robey Street, Grimesthorpe, Sheffield, are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and perverting the course of justice by allegedly cleaning the scene of the crime.A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also appeared at Thursday's hearing charged with perverting the course of justice. Andrea Skopova, 20, is the mother of Baby S. She has been charged with her murder and remanded in custody. She wept in court today Nina Horvathova, 37, has been charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice by taking steps to conceal the killing of an infant Andrea's boyfriend, Peter Horvath Jr, has also been charged with murder Slovak national Peter Horvath Sr has also been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child and also perverting the course of justice All five defendants sat in the glass-fronted dock, watched by 26 members of their family from the public gallery balcony above.They were flanked by seven security guards and other staff, and two Slovak interpreters.Skopova and the 15-year-old girl sobbed throughout the hearing.Some people in the gallery were also in tears, and one woman cried uncontrollably as the defendants left the dock, leading the judge to order the public seating to be cleared.Judge Sarah Wright fixed a trial date for April 12 next year, saying it was expected to last six to seven weeks.Judge Wright remanded all the defendants in custody and fixed the next hearing for October 2.On Wednesday, prosecutor Luke Hopkinson told Sheffield Magistrates Court that Skopova was the baby's mother.The father is unknown, Mr Hopkinson said. A police forensics team could be seen entering the property last week, where the baby was found on top of a washing machineSkopova is the girlfriend of the defendant Horvath Jnr, who is the son of the other two adult defendants.Mr Hopkinson said Horvath Jnr was not believed to be the father.Baby S was found wrapped in a towel and in a blue bag in an outbuilding at an address in Holywell Heights.Mr Hopkinson said she had suffered 33 wounds from 15 'separate stabbings'. The prosecutor said she suffered wounds to her 'face and torso – front and back'.Two women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain on bail.