Woman on trial for six baby murders

A 38-year-old French woman went on trial yesterday, accused of strangling or smothering to death her six newborn babies.

Celine Lesage, a petite brunette who has a teenaged son, admitted before a judge in the Channel town of Coutances to killing the six infants between 1999 and 2007. "I admit to the charges," Lesage said on the first day of her trial.

Asked whether the babies were alive when she murdered them, Lesage hesitated and said "I cannot answer" before finally adding: "Yes, your honour".

Lesage is accused of first degree murder and faces a life jail sentence if convicted, with no possibility of parole for 18 years. She was arrested in October 2007 after her partner and father of one of the murdered babies discovered decomposing infant bodies stuffed in garbage bags in the basement of their apartment building.

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