Mother Kills New-Born

Amanda Hein hid her son in the pub toilet and returned to the bar to watch a pay-per-view wrestling match.

She admitted killing her new-born after giving birth to him in a pub toilet and wrapping him up in a plastic bag and hiding him in a lavatory container.

The 27-year-old from Allentown, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to murder at a pre-trial hearing; this meant she escaped the threat of a death sentence.

It will now be decided if she should be sentenced of first-degree murder, which would carry a life prison term, or third-degree murder. This carries a maximum sentence of between 20 and 40 years.

Hein was at Starters Pub in Lower Saucon Township to watch a pay-per-view wrestling match last August; when she went into labour.

After she gave birth, she returned to her friends stained with blood. However, she refused to tell them what happened and continued to watch the TV for another hour, before she left.

The body was found by cleaners, the following day when the toilet wouldn’t flush.

Michael Corriere, defence lawyer said he would argue at the trial that the baby was suffering from an illness, leading his client to believe the infant had died.

He also said that Hein never had the specific intention to kill, which is required for a first-degree murder conviction.

Originally, it has been said by prosecutors that they plan to seek the death penalty. However, they agreed not to in exchange for her guilty plea.

Northampton County District, Attorney John Morganelli said the guilty plea meant a guaranteed conviction without a lengthy appeal procedure.

Hein’s mental health issues would have made it difficult for her to be sentenced to death, and pointed out no Pennsylvania death row inmate has been executed in 15 years, he added.

“Realistically, death penalties are not conferred in Pennsylvania,” he said.