16 Feb 2006

Samoa police call for public's help after apparent infanticide case

4:19 pm on 16 February 2006

Police in Samoa say infanticide is rare in their culture and the discovery of a baby's body in Apia Harbour has shocked the community.

The police commmisioner, Papali'itele Loronese Neru, says its likely the baby boy was deliberately abandoned and the police are urging the public to come forward with information.

The partially-decomposed baby was found floating at sea by a dinghy crew, near the Fish Market at Savalolo on Monday.

Papali'itele says a post-mortem revealed the five and a half pound baby was several days old when he was found.