A court in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan has handed down a three-year restriction of liberty sentence to a local woman following the preventable death of her newborn infant. The harrowing case, which unfolded earlier this summer, has highlighted complex domestic and psychological challenges faced within vulnerable households, prompting close attention from local judicial authorities.
According to the official case details, the incident occurred on the morning of June 10 at the residence of the defendant's parents in the Kumkurgan district. Immediately after giving birth, the woman placed the newborn into an outdoor latrine before collapsing from severe postpartum hemorrhage. Relatives who discovered her unconscious condition rushed her to a local hospital, while the infant was subsequently recovered and subjected to forensic examination. The autopsy report conclusively determined that the newborn died from mechanical asphyxiation after its airways became blocked by waste materials.
During the subsequent court proceedings, the defendant fully admitted to the charges while offering contradictory explanations regarding her mental state at the time. She claimed she initially believed the infant was stillborn because it was not breathing, yet concurrently acknowledged hearing the baby cry before severing the umbilical cord and leaving the child in the toilet. The woman asserted she was not fully cognizant of her actions. Testimony from her husband and mother revealed no history of severe domestic disputes or external coercion, although her husband noted occasional signs of absent-mindedness prior to the event.
The court ultimately found the defendant guilty under Article 99 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, which penalizes the murder of a newborn by its mother. The three-year restriction of liberty sentence comes with strict conditions, requiring the convicted woman to remain at her registered residence outside of working or studying hours. Furthermore, she is legally prohibited from changing her permanent address, traveling outside the Surkhandarya region, or frequenting cafes, bars, restaurants, and public gatherings without official authorization.
Source: podrobno.uz