A Romanian woman and four relatives are on trial over the death of a baby abandoned in Austria

The trial into the death of a baby abandoned in January at the Nickelsdorf border crossing in Austria began Wednesday at the Eisenstadt Regional Court. The child’s mother, who was 17 at the time of the birth, and four relatives are on trial for homicide and complicity in murder.

Prosecutors allege that the young woman hit and strangled her baby girl immediately after giving birth, while the family was traveling by minibus from Romania to Germany. The child was abandoned behind an electrical substation, and the body was found the following day.

An autopsy established that the baby girl was fully developed and healthy and that she lived for several minutes. Her death was caused by severe head trauma, including a skull fracture and cerebral hemorrhaging. The family, however, claims that the baby was stillborn and that the injuries occurred accidentally.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty. Surveillance footage shows the family members abandoning the body and throwing away a bloodstained mattress. The hearings were held behind closed doors, and the first ruling is expected Thursday. The young woman faces up to two and a half years in prison, while her relatives could receive sentences of up to 20 years or even life imprisonment.