Woman charged with murdering Baby Callum pleads not guilty

Joanne Sharkey, of Denham Close in Croxteth, Liverpool, was charged with murder and concealing the birth of a child in connection with the death of Baby Callum.

Callum, who was named after the Callands district of Warrington where he was found, died on March 14, 1998.

He was discovered at around 11am wrapped in a black plastic binbag in woodland near Gulliver’s World and would have only been a few hours old when he died.

Residents rallied following the discovery of Baby Callum and raised more than £800 to pay for an engraved headstone for when his body was buried more than four months later.

“Baby Callum, precious child of God. Laid to rest July 27, 1998. With love, from the people of Warrington,” the inscription reads.

One of Cheshire’s longest-running open murder investigations, Cheshire Police revealed in October last year that it had rearrested two people – a man and a woman – in connection to Callum’s death, 25 years after he was found.

The man was released without charge, but Sharkey was rearrested in April before being charged with murder and remanded in custody.

She last appeared in Liverpool Crown Court on April 18, speaking only to confirm her full name and date of birth.

Today, the defendant, who wore a black blazer with patterned top and her hair clipped up, appeared in court, represented by Miss Filletti, and pleaded not guilty to both the murder of Baby Callum, and the concealment of his birth.

A provisional trial date has been set for January 14, 2025, with a pre-trial review set for October and she has been released on bail.

It is expected to last four weeks.

“I understand that this is an extremely emotional case which has attracted a lot of attention over the past 26 years, however I would ask people not to speculate,” said DI Hannah Friend, of Cheshire Police’s major crime review team after Sharkey was charged.

“Criminal proceedings are now active against Joanne Sharkey and she has the right to a fair trial.”