Abandoned baby's mother may not face charges, say police

Police are continuing door-knocking today in a final bid to find the mother of "Baby Moses", whose body was found at the rear of a Hastings property last week.
Hastings CIB Detective Sergeant Luke Shadbolt said yesterday the baby's mother may not face charges if she came forward to the police.

The body of the newborn boy was found last Tuesday afternoon in long grass toward the back of the Christian Community Movement for Christian Renewal centre, less than 500m from the Hastings CBD.

Mr Shadbolt said 20 police officers were knocking on doors in the area today.

He said one theory was that because the woman had just given birth she might live nearby, as she would not have been able to walk far to dump the baby.

"Understandably, the woman would be scared -- it was obvious she was scared about the consequences [of having Moses]," Mr Shadbolt told the Dominion Post.

Charges might not be laid if the mother came forward and the circumstances warranted no further action, he said.

Coroner Peter Dennehy said he will decide today on about making an order for disposal of Moses' body, so it could be buried.

The funeral for Moses will be held this Thursday at Hastings Cemetery in Orchard Road at 1pm.

Mr Shadbolt said the public response from police knocking on people's doors has been good.

"Generally they are very supportive, although very little information has come out of it as yet."

He said police still had no information about the identity of Moses' mother.


Dubbed "Baby Moses", the child was thought to have been dumped some time in the New Year weekend, and had decomposed in the warm weather.


The age of the unclad child had not been determined, but it was believed the baby had been full-term when born.


The circumstances suggested the birth had probably not taken place in a hospital or other formal natal facilities.


The funeral will be presided over by Father Bill Chapman, and was expected to be a "quick and relatively simple service", Mr Shadbolt said.


He was hopeful a small marker with "Baby Moses" on it would be used to mark the child's final resting place.


Mr Shadbolt said the Hastings District Council would possibly donate the plot and the casket the child was to be buried in. However, this has not been confirmed.


A member of the public had also rung police and offered to make a donation to help pay for the casket, he said.


"It's good the public do care, it's just a pity that they can't give us that vital information."


- NZPA