Baby

The body of a newly-born male child was found in the Tame Valley Canal near Walsall Road in West Bromwich.

The pathologist said that it died from inattention at birth and a verdict of 'death from natural causes' was recorded.

The pathologist noted that an attempt had been made to burn the child’s body and that it also had a fractured skull, but he said that both injuries were caused after the child died.

He added that the child's skull fracture could have been caused after the child was thrown into the water or by a passing barge.

He said that there was no evidence of violence before death.

He said that it was impossible to say how long the child had lived, adding that it could have been anything from a few minutes to an hour.

At the inquest the Coroner noted that the police were still making enquiries to identify the mother of the child.