Bizarre burial story trial underway

Relevant offers

News

Sophie Elliott's family relieved appeal dismissed Motorcyclist vs. car in Lower Hutt Bashed officer bounces back Burglary suspects pulled over for speeding Rimutaka Prison inmate's roof climb to be reviewed 'Another kick in the guts for rural NZ' Wolf with attitude prowls Lambton Quay (explicit) Retrial ordered on murder charge Generous US teen makes 'save the kakapo' call Does mum rule the roost, or does dad?

A Hastings woman faked the birth, death and burial of a baby, then accused another woman of digging up the bogus baby's ashes.

Kelly Ann Hunter, 20, was yesterday sentenced in Hastings District Court for an elaborate ruse that began with her telling her former flatmate - with whom she'd had a sexual relationship - she was pregnant with his child.

She claimed to have given birth to a baby boy at a midwife's surgery in May last year and duped the Department of Internal Affairs into issuing a birth certificate by posting them a birth registration form, Hawke's Bay Today reported.

She then got the department to issue a death certificate by sending it a cause of death notice, stating her baby had died the day it was born.

She bought a plot at the stillborn section of Hastings Cemetery and a plaque with the name ''Jesse''.

Hunter then complained to police she was having problems with her former flatmate's new girlfriend.

In October 2010 she swore an affidavit at Napier Family Court and took out a protection order against the woman, swearing someone had spray painted her son's plaque and dug up his ashes.

Police said she later confessed her entire story was bogus, and admitted there had never been a baby.

Hunter pleaded guilty to making a false oath, and two counts of making a false statement.

Judge Geoff Rea sentenced her to nine months' supervision and ordered counselling.

Internal Affairs said the birth certificate was issued in error by an employee, who did so out of a misguided desire to help a woman who she thought had given birth to a baby and then lost it on the same day.

- NZPA