New mum gave birth to baby girl on bathroom floor before stabbing her to death and telling boyfriend she had miscarriage

Rachel Tunstill murdered newborn Mia in her Burnley home after telling her partner she didn't need medical help.

She asked him for scissors before Mia was stabbed 15 times and killed, on January 14, 2017 – Tunstill put her body in a bag in the kitchen bin.

The 28-year-old went to hospital two days later for medical attention and told nurses there she suffered a miscarriage at nine weeks pregnant.

Cops were told after an examination showed she had given birth, and Tunstill told officers she had only found out she was pregnant three days before giving birth.

She claimed the baby was stillborn and she didn't know if it was a boy or girl.

Police found the baby's body in the kitchen and arrested both Tunstill and Mia's 30-year-old father , who was later released.

She was found guilty of her baby's murder today, and will be sentenced tomorrow.

Speaking after court Det Ch Insp Gareth Willis from Lancashire Constabulary’s Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) said: “This was a truly horrifying and callous killing of a defenceless newborn baby by her mother; her source of life and who should have been her source of love.

“What is worse is that a totally innocent man, still coming to terms with the realisation he had a daughter and that she had died, was questioned by police because Tunstill lied about the fact she had killed the baby stating that it was stillborn. She has still never admitted why she killed Mia.

“My thoughts remain with Mia’s father and her family who have not only had to deal with their loss, they have also had to sit through two trials, listening in great detail to what she was subjected to.

"They have conducted themselves with great dignity and I hope this now gives them some comfort that the legal side of things have come to an end.

“Lastly, I would like to pass on my gratitude to the jury in this retrial and also the previous trial, for their careful consideration of the case.

"Also, I must say thanks to witnesses who have had to go through giving distressing evidence twice, as well as the police officers and staff who worked on this difficult and upsetting enquiry, seeking justice a second time for Mia.”



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