Doctors who treated the baby abandoned in a container in Portocristo believe he was born alive.

PalmThe doctors who treated the baby found in a dumpster in Portocristo believe the child was born alive. They declared this Tuesday during the second session of the jury trial taking place at the Provincial Court, where The mother and brother-in-law are accused of murder and the woman's sister, for failure to provide assistance.

The on-call pediatrician at Levante Hospital explained that, when he joined the team trying to resuscitate the baby, he saw "some signs of life," despite acknowledging that the fetus—between 22 and 26 weeks pregnant—had "very little evidence." "When I saw him, he showed no vital signs," admitted the doctor, who also expressed doubts about the values indicated by the oximeter.

According to the pediatrician, the presence of hemorrhages in the autopsy reinforces the hypothesis that the baby was born alive. "If the baby had died before birth, I wouldn't have presented it," he explained in response to questions from prosecutor Antònia Ruiz. However, he insisted that "I inferred that the baby was stillborn," clarifying that the body temperature could have been due to the hot cloths applied before arrival at the hospital.

Along the same lines, an emergency room doctor noted that "medically there were signs of life," although that does not mean the fetus was viable. However, none of the health professionals could conclusively state whether the baby was born alive or stillborn. A nurse noted that the monitor showed a heartbeat, but admitted that it could have been due to resuscitation maneuvers: "We are not in a position to say whether the baby was alive or dead."

The gynecologist who treated the mother a few days before the events stated that her "subjective" impression is that the woman was aware of her pregnancy. She explained that the examination performed in the Emergency Department showed a healthy fetus, and an obstetrics visit was scheduled for the following days. The doctor indicated that the infection subsequently detected in the amniotic fluid could lead to a miscarriage if it worsened.

The forensic experts point to a natural abortion.

The forensic experts who later analyzed the case maintained that the woman should have been hospitalized and that her discharge was "imprudent." They believe the mother's body was already rejecting the fetus, and that a miscarriage occurred. "The fetus's development was incompatible with life," stated one of the specialists, who noted that, in the best-case scenario, "it would have been born brain-dead."

Request for permanent revisable imprisonment

The events under trial date back to November 3, 2023. According to the Prosecutor's Office, the woman, between 26 and 27 weeks pregnant, gave birth in a vehicle in which she was traveling with her sister and brother-in-law. Despite being near a hospital, the mother allegedly handed the baby's body to her brother-in-law, who threw it into a dumpster before fleeing the scene.

The Prosecutor's Office is seeking a life sentence subject to review for the mother and brother-in-law, while it is seeking a fine of €5,400 for the sister—accused of failure to provide assistance.

The trial will continue throughout the week at the Provincial Court, and the statements of the defendants, who have requested to testify last, are scheduled for Friday.