A young Edmonton woman was sentenced Thursday in the death of her baby girl.
Naomi Russell-Simpson pleaded guilty back in March of this year to failing to obtain childbirth assistance and disposing of a child's body.
The woman, who was 20-year-old at the time the offence was committed, was given an 18-month conditional sentence, which will be served in the community. She must follow a curfew for the first year of her sentence, she must be either employed or going to school, she will also have to receive either psychiatric or psychological treatment, abstain from consuming alcohol and she will perform 30 hours of community service within the first year of her sentence.
In an agreed statement of facts, the woman said she was offended when people asked her if she was pregnant before the birth. She later told investigators she thought a lack of exercise contributed to her weight gain.
It was also noted that the mother believed the baby was deceased when she placed the infant in the bag, despite the medical examiner's finding that the infant was alive at birth.
The infant's dead body was found on March 19, 2008 when a man sharing a home at 69 Street and 130 Avenue, who would only identify himself as Wayne, entered the basement suite to do some laundry.
The tenant said his dog began barking and eventually led him to the body. Wayne and his girlfriend called police after they saw a small hand in the bag.
With files from CTV's David Ewasuk
