A woman charged with the murder of Baby Callum found in a Warrington woodland 26 years ago may face trial early next year.
The baby boy, who was given the name Callum by police, was discovered in a bin bag close to the Gulliver’s World theme park in Warrington, Cheshire, in March 1998.
Today (Thur) Joanne Sharkey, 54, of Denham Close, Croxteth, Liverpool, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court charged with the murder of Callum and concealment of the birth of a child between 1 and 14 March 1998.
Sharkey, wearing a dark grey sweatshirt and with her brown hair tied back in a ponytail, spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth.
She appeared via video link from Styal prison and repeatedly bit her nails during the ten-minute hearing.
Her barrister Rebecca Filletti did not make a bail application today but the court heard that there may be a bail application next week.
Judge Andrew Menary, KC, the Recorder of Liverpool, fixed a provisional date for her trial, expected to last two weeks, beginning on January 14 next year.
Sharkey was further remanded in custody and a date for her to return to enter her pleas was set for July 25. Members of the police investigation team were present in court for the hearing.
Detectives named the infant Callum after the Callands district of Warrington where he was found, as his true identity could not be confirmed.
A burial and funeral service were arranged by local residents and he was buried in Warrington Cemetery a few months later.
The headstone, which was paid for with money raised by the community, was inscribed “Baby Callum, precious child of God. Laid to rest July 27, 1998. With love, from the people of Warrington”.
