Child-killing charges mount

Press, 10 April 1980, Page 8

Child-killing charges mount

NZPA Sydney An 18-year-old girl, previously charged with three counts of murder, was charged yesterday with another murder and two attempted murders. Campbelltown Court, Sydney, was told that a two-year-old boy she allegedly tried to murder was blind and could not. use his legs as a result of the alleged attack. Helen Patricia Moore, of Fulwood Place, Claymore, appeared before Mr J. Hiatt, S.M., charged with. —The murder of her brother, Peter John Moore, aged 7, at Claymore on March 31, 1980.

— The murder of Susan Mclntosh, aged 16 months, at Mount Druitt on May 19, 1979.

— The murder of Rachel

Hay, aged 2, at Claymore on February 24, 1980. —The murder of her step-brother, Andrew Stuart Moore, aged 2, at St Mary’s on March 1, 1979. —The assault with intent to murder Vaughan Robert Nicholson, aged one, at Claymore on January 16, 1980. — The assault with intent to murder Aaron William Crocker, aged 2, at Claymore on February 1, 1980. No pleas were entered. In opposing bail, Detec-tive-Sergeant Don Worsley said the alleged attack on Aaron Crocker had taken place while his parents were away from their home in Westhall Way, Claymore. He said the child had been asleep in its cot when Moore allegedly put her hands over the baby’s mouth and nose and tried to suffo-

cate it. “She thought the child was dead and returned to the lounge room,” Sergeant Worsley said. “She later heard the child crying, and called a neighbour who notified its parents. “The child was taken unconscious to the Liverpool Hospital, and later to the Prince of Wales Hospital. “The child was in a deep coma for two weeks and spent another six weeks in hospital. “The child is now totally blind and unable to use his legs because of the assault.” Sergeant Worsley said Moore had allegedly tried to murder Vaughan Nicholson while minding him during the daytime when his parents were away. Moore had allegedly placed her hand over the!

boy's mouth and nose while he was asleep in a cot. She had thought she had killed the child.

Sergeant Worsley said the child had later made a noise, and a neighbour had been called, and the boy rushed to the Campbelltown Hospital. The child had suffered no apparent ill-effects from the attack. More medical tests v. .re being conducted. The police alleged Moore had • made admissions in signed records of interview in relation to three murders and two attempted murders. Moore had made no admission in relation to the death of her step-brother, Andrew, at St Mary’s on March 1, 1979.

The child allegedly became ill at home while its parents were away and was dead Iwhen taken to hospital.