A 26-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless conduct endangering life after a newborn infant was found with life-threatening injuries outside a home in Melbourne’s south-east.
Irine Jerotich briefly appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday and indicated she was pleading guilty to the single offence. The court heard few details during the short hearing, which was conducted before Magistrate Leon Fluxman.
Court documents say the offence occurred between the night of August 29 and the early hours of August 30, 2024. Police were called to a Dandenong North address at about 2:40 a.m. on August 30 after an infant was located outside the home. The newborn was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors had earlier alleged that Jerotich placed the infant in a plastic bag and threw the child out of a bathroom window onto concrete, conduct that allegedly placed the unnamed infant in danger of death. A second charge alleging reckless conduct endangering injury was discontinued by prosecutors.
Jerotich, who attended court on bail wearing a white hoodie and with a long braided ponytail over her shoulder, was not required to speak other than to enter the plea. Her bail was continued, and she remains on conditional release until a pre-sentence hearing in the County Court of Victoria scheduled for February. As part of her bail conditions she is not permitted to leave Victoria and must reside at her registered home address.
Magistrates courts in Victoria typically deal with pleas and committal matters before sentencing is set in a higher court. No further particulars of the alleged incident were aired in the brief magistrates’ hearing on Monday.
Victorian authorities and court records identified the defendant by name and age but have not published identifying details of the infant because of legal protections for victims and children. Police and court documents list the incident date and location as late August 2024 in Dandenong North.
Those affected by this reporting who need support can contact crisis and counselling services, including 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25).