Monique Ellen Burton accused of hiding baby in freezer has first appearance in Geraldton Magistrates Court

A Geraldton woman has faced court accused of interfering with a baby’s corpse after a dead newborn was allegedly put in a plastic bag and then placed in a backyard freezer. Monique Ellen Burton, 32, allegedly helped hide a baby’s corpse between August 20 to 25 last year, and had the charge read out to her in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Friday. Geraldton detectives have previously alleged that after giving birth following a pregnancy that was concealed, Ms Burton placed the already dead child in a plastic bag, before her 33-year-old partner, Shaun Bradley Balaam, hid the body in a backyard freezer. Police said they were notified after Ms Burton showed signs of a recent child birth when she went to hospital, despite denying she had given birth. Police then investigated her home in Spalding where the baby’s body was found. Ms Burton and Mr Balaam have not been accused of killing the child. Ms Burton is also facing 13 charges of gaining benefits by fraud. Police previously alleged she had received — and spent — donations after lying to people that she had a terminal medical condition. In a previous court appearance on February 20, the charges were read out to Ms Burton. Her co-accused, Mr Balaam, made his first appearance in court the day before on Thursday. Ms Burton and Mr Balaam, who are both on bail, will appear next in court on April 13.