15 August 2023 , 15:11
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A Teesside woman has denied procuring a poison to abort her child shortly after the first Covid lockdown.
Bethany Cox faced two charges of "child destruction" and "procure own miscarriage by poison". The 22-year-old denied taking a drug with intent to destroy the life of a child that was capable of being born alive on July 6, 2020, in the knowledge it would lead to the termination of the pregnancy.
The Eaglescliffe woman also denied a second offence of "administering a poison with intent to procure a miscarriage", between July 2 and July 7, 2020, in Stockton. The first lockdown restrictions were eased on July 4, 2020.
Cox, from Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, made her first appearance at Teesside Crown Court, in Middlesbrough, on Tuesday, were she pleaded not guilty to both charges. The public gallery was almost full for the 15-minute hearing and Cox was followed into the court building by supporters. A seven-day trial was scheduled to start on January 15.
Victoria Lamballe, Cox’s barrister, had asked in court that Cox not enter a plea today as she “has some concerns about her psychiatric background” and would like to wait for psychiatric reports, reported TeessideLive. Ms Lamballe said she expected her client to plead “not guilty” but that “given the charges, I’m concerned that there is not yet a psychiatric report.”
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Judge Paul Watson then asked Ms Lamballe if she was saying that Cox can’t understand or follow proceedings in court, because that would be the only reason for her not to enter a plea today, if Ms Lamballe is not asking for the charges to be dismissed. The defence barrister said that this is not the case and the judge then ordered for Bethany Cox to be arraigned.
Judge Watson granted Cox unconditional bail until she next appears in court.