Mother charged with murder after baby girl dies in Leeds park

A woman has been charged with murdering her five-month-old daughter, who was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital from a park.

Hayley Macfarlane, 39, from Barnsley, was due to appear before magistrates in Leeds on Saturday, West Yorkshire police said.

She has been charged with the murder of her baby, Evelyn, after an incident at Woodhouse Moor park in Leeds.

In a statement, police said a woman had contacted police at 5.44pm on Wednesday reporting a baby in a serious condition in an area of the park at the junction of Clarendon Road and Moorland Road.

The statement added: “Officers attended and the five-month-old girl was taken to hospital by ambulance for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead a short time later.

“A scene was put in place for forensic examination and detectives from West Yorkshire police homicide and major enquiry team are leading the investigation.”