She threw the baby she gave birth to in the toilet into the trash; her testimony in court was chilling

Kastamonu—The trial of a young woman who gave birth in a toilet and then wrapped her newborn baby in a trash bag and left it next to a dumpster has begun. Defending herself at the hearing, the woman said, "I thought my child was stillborn. When it was born, I waited by its side for 10 minutes. It didn't move at all. I put the child in a trash bag and gave it to my father. I told my father, 'there is trash in the house, go throw this away,' and he went and threw it in the trash."

The incident occurred on November 2, 2023, on Karadut Street in the Kuzeykent Neighborhood of Kastamonu city center.

According to the information obtained, the baby was found by citizens wrapped in a trash bag next to a dumpster. The newborn was resuscitated by medical teams after receiving initial intervention at the Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital.

Following the incident, investigations by the Kastamonu Provincial Police Department teams identified the mother of the baby found in the trash as Cansu Ç.

Cansu Ç., who was determined to have given birth in the toilet without her family's knowledge, was arrested. It was learned that the baby, who was taken under treatment, regained its health following treatment in Ankara.

TRIAL HAS BEGUN

The case against Cansu Ç. (18) on charges of "attempted murder of a close relative unable to defend themselves" has begun at the Kastamonu High Criminal Court. Cansu Ç., who attended the hearing via SEGBIS from the prison where she is being held, gave her defense.

''I PUT THE CHILD IN A TRASH BAG...''

Stating that she hid her pregnancy from her family, Cansu Ç. said, "I thought my child was stillborn. When it was born, I waited by its side for 10 minutes. It didn't move at all. My family didn't notice I was pregnant. My stomach had swollen very little. I gave birth in the toilet. My menstrual periods were painful, so I didn't scream while giving birth. My father is mentally disabled; I put the child in a trash bag and gave it to him. The bag was open; my father might have closed the bag when he went outside. I was covered in blood while giving birth. I took off my clothes, wrapped the child in the clothes I was wearing, and gave it to my father. I told my father, 'there was trash in the house, go throw this away,' and he went and threw it in the trash."

''I WATCHED BIRTH VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET''

Noting that she gave birth by watching birth videos on the internet, the defendant said, "If it had been born alive, I would have told my family. If my mother had seen the baby born, I thought they would do something at that moment. I was engaged to Ercan at the time. But the child was Kenan's. I called Kenan and told him I had a miscarriage. I didn't tell him the child was born. He was pressuring me and insulting me. I was only 14 when I met Kenan. He wanted me to abort the child. I didn't allow it. I wanted to marry Ercan immediately and raise my child in a healthy way. I want to be tried while released. I request my release. I am very sorry for everything. I love my child very much. I want to see him."

''I DON'T THINK SHE LEFT THE CHILD IN THE TRASH CONSCIOUSLY...''

The child's father, Kenan G. (40), who was heard as a witness at the hearing, said, "We met in Azdavay in 2022. I learned that Cansu was pregnant at the beginning of April last year. Cansu told me she couldn't have her period. I went to the pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test, and we found out she was pregnant. I went to prison in July last year following a fight. I stayed in prison for 2 months. Then she told me the child had miscarried. We didn't meet again after that. She told me, 'I will raise this child even without you.' I don't think Cansu left the child in the trash consciously. She might have been afraid of her family; she told me the child was stillborn and that she threw it in the trash in a panic."

''SHE WAS WEARING LOOSE CLOTHES, HER PREGNANCY WAS NOT NOTICEABLE''

Ercan K., Cansu Ç.'s former fiancé who was heard as a witness at the hearing, said, "We got engaged in April last year. Cansu Ç. was pregnant at that time. I didn't know about the birth stage. She usually wore loose clothes, her pregnancy was not noticeable. I went and asked for her hand in marriage according to God's command. If I had known she had a relationship with someone else, I wouldn't have asked. I was trying to convince the families to move our wedding date forward. I had no knowledge of Cansu's pregnancy or the child at all."

At the hearing, Cansu Ç.'s mother, Halime Ç., withdrew from testifying.

The court panel decided to continue Cansu Ç.'s detention and adjourned the hearing to a later date.