Attempted murder of a newborn: a case history

In this report we have examined the evaluation of a teenage mother who has attempted murder of her newborn. We have also assessed her for competency to mother the infant she attempted to murder and reassessed the outcome a year later. We argued in this case that with sufficient supervision and psycho-social counselling she could be given the possibility of parenting her infant. Upon follow-up a year later we found the child and mother to be supported within an extended family group and the mother managing the needs of her infant.