A TRIAL date for a young mother accused of murdering her own baby boy has yet to be confirmed.

Shauna Donnelly was charged with murder in March following a lengthy Cleveland Police investigation after the baby died in October last year.

Donnelly attended James Cook University Hospital on October 4 carrying a newborn baby. It is believed the baby was born the day before.

The baby, named Ellis, was pronounced dead on arrival.

During a short hearing at Teesside Crown Court, which 24-year-old Donnelly was not required to attend, Judge Paul Watson QC adjourned the case to see whether a High Court Judge, due to be sitting at the court in October, would be able to hear the case.

The judge said: “If we were to try to find a trial date today it would not be until next year. I can understand the need for this case to be tried sooner rather than later.

“We have a High Court judge here in October, what I’m minded to do is adjourn this case until a date in September when we will have an idea whether the lengthy trial the judge is de to take is active or not.

“I think this would be an ideal case for the High Court judge to deal with.”

The case was listed again next week for a mention hearing to finalise details of the proposed trial date.

At an earlier hearing, Judge Watson QC granted Donnelly, who lives in the Middlesbrough area, bail with conditions including curfew of 4pm and 6am.

No plea has been entered but her barrister Robert Mochrie told the court that his client maintains that the child was a stillbirth.