Joanne Sharkey sentenced for killing newborn son, Baby Callum

A 55-year-old woman named Joanne Sharkey has been sentenced for the killing of her newborn son, Baby Callum, over 25 years ago. The baby’s body was found in a wooded area in Warrington on March 14, 1998. Sharkey, who lives in Croxteth, pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and concealing the birth. A cold case review by police last year led to her identification through DNA from a family member. She was charged with the murder of Baby Callum in April 2024. At the time of the baby's death, police conducted a large investigation but could not identify the parents despite multiple leads. Baby Callum was believed to have been born healthy, but the cause of death was initially listed as asphyxiation. After a recent review, it is now classified as "unascertained." On the first day of her trial, Sharkey admitted to the charges, saying she was suffering from a serious depressive illness that impaired her judgment. Following the tragic case, a local funeral service was held for Baby Callum, attended by about 150 people from the community. The case has drawn significant emotional responses from those involved. Sentencing took place today, with a High Court judge expected to deliver the outcome shortly. The prosecution expressed that the child’s life was unfairly cut short and that the community is deeply affected by the circumstances of his death.