Woman, 22, denies killing baby with ‘DIY abortion during lockdown’
A WOMAN has denied performing a DIY abortion with ‘poison’ during lockdown.
Bethany Cox, 22, is accused of performing the illegal abortion by ingesting a “poison or other harmful thing”.
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She appeared today at Teesside Crown Court where she denied administering a poison with intent to cause a miscarriage between July 2 and 7, 2020.
Cox also pleaded not guilty to taking a drug with intent to destroy the life of a child who could be born alive on July 6, 2020, knowing it would result in the termination of the pregnancy.
The first lockdown restrictions were eased on July 4th, 2020.
Cox was supported by her family in the public gallery as she made her pleas.
January 15 next year has been set as the preliminary hearing date.
Cox is the fourth woman charged with a similar offense in the past eight months.
Self-abortion was criminalized under the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861.
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