Child destruction case highlights inconsistent thinking over the value of an unborn child
The ex-boyfriend of a heavily pregnant woman has appeared in court charged with child destruction and grievous bodily harm after she was attacked and lost her unborn child.
Malorie Bantala, 21, who was 32 weeks pregnant, lost her unborn child in the early hours of Tuesday (16 June) following the attack near her Peckham home on Monday evening.
Kevin Wilson, 21, is believed by Miss Bantala’s family to be the unborn child’s father. He appeared before the Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (18 June) charged with child destruction and causing grievous bodily harm. He denies the charges.
The indictment against Kevin read: ‘With intent to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive, by a wilful act, namely kicking and stamping on the stomach of the 32-weeks pregnant mother, caused the child to die before it had an existence independent of its mother’.
Mr Wilson, a teaching assistant from the Longfield Estate, was refused bail and has been remanded in custody to appear before Woolwich Crown Court on 2 July.
Detective Chief Inspector Robert Pack from the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "This was a truly abhorrent and vile attack on a heavily-pregnant woman who has now, tragically, lost her baby."
Meanwhile, the London Ambulance Service has apologised after admitting that police had to take Miss Bantala to hospital after they failed to arrive. Miss Bantala had been waiting for 70 minutes.
A spokeswoman said the service was “sorry we were unable to send an ambulance before we were cancelled by the police” and they would be “looking into the circumstances of what happened”.
Miss Bantala’s mother Ida, who comforted her daughter during the wait for the ambulance spoke of her horror at finding her daughter lying in the street.
She said she was upstairs in her flat when someone came screaming to her door shouting: "Malorie's mum, Malorie's mum, come quickly."
She said: "I rushed down and there she was just lying on the pavement with the police.
"She was just crying and crying
"If you see your daughter like that, it's awful. Words can't explain it…
"Malorie was so excited about having the baby and we were all pleased for her. I wanted to be a grandma."
Commenting on the case Andrea Williams said “This is a highly disturbing case.
"It highlights the shocking inconsistency of our society’s attitude to unborn children.
"Every day 500 children are aborted in our nation; 200,000 every year and 8½ million children since the passing of the Abortion Act 1967.
"With the new ellaOne 5-day abortion pill, that is now available to those under the age of 16, that figure is likely to grow.
"This baby’s life was precious and the way this baby die has caused an outpouring of horror and grief.
"Why do we not feel the same way about the 500 babies that are aborted every day?"
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Related Coverage:
Woman in critical condition after losing unborn child in stamping attack (Guardian)
Woman who lost her baby after vicious assault was planning 'shower' this weekend, friends reveal as her ex-lover appears in court charged with child destruction (Mail)
