A WOMAN charged with the murder of Baby Callum found in woodland at Warrington 26 years ago was today (Tue) granted bail.
Joanne Sharkey, 54, of Denham Close, Croxteth, Liverpool, is accused of murder and concealment of the birth of a child after the baby, named Callum by police officers, was discovered close to the Gulliver’s World theme park in Warrington in March 1998.
At a bail application hearing heard in private at Liverpool Crown Court today Judge Andrew Menary, KC, the Recorder of Liverpool, granted bail on undisclosed conditions. Sharkey did not attend the hearing.
She is next due to appear in court on July 25 to enter her pleas and a provisional trial date has already been fixed to begin on January 14 next year.
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”.
