Four adults have appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court charged with the murder of a newborn baby girl who was repeatedly stabbed at a house in South Yorkshire.

The defendants—Andrea Skopova, 20, formerly of Robey Street, along with Peter Horvath, 19, Nina Horvathova, 37, and Peter Horvath, 38, all of Holywell Heights in Sheffield—are Slovakian nationals. All four have been charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and perverting the course of justice by taking steps to conceal the infant's killing.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, also appeared in the same court charged with perverting the course of justice. Magistrates remanded all five defendants into custody, and they are due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday.

The baby girl, who was referred to in court documents as Baby S, was discovered on Sunday at a property in Holywell Heights, located in the Wincobank area of Sheffield. The court was told that the newborn had suffered 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings.

During Tuesday's hearing, prosecutor Luke Hopkinson detailed the circumstances in which the infant was found. The court heard the baby's body was discovered on top of a washing machine in an outhouse, wrapped inside a towel that had been placed in a blue bag.

Mr Hopkinson also told magistrates that the accused had attempted to pervert the course of justice by cleaning the scene following the incident.

Beyond the five people who appeared in court this week, South Yorkshire Police previously stated that two other women, aged 26 and 37, had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain on police bail while inquiries continue.

Outside the house in Holywell Heights, members of the local community have left tributes, with bouquets of flowers and cuddly toys placed near the scene. Police have confirmed that officers will continue to maintain a presence in and around the neighbourhood as their work on the case proceeds.

Speaking ahead of the court appearance, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward addressed the wider impact of the case, calling the charges a "significant step in our investigation into the tragic circumstances that resulted in the death of this baby girl."

DCI Woodward also made a direct appeal to the public regarding commentary on social media. "I would like to thank our communities, who I know will have been deeply impacted by this traumatic incident, for supporting us as we work through this intricate investigation," he said. "We would ask the public to avoid speculating and posting information online about this case while the legal process takes it course. Protecting the integrity of the criminal justice process is crucial to us securing justice for this little girl."

The case now moves to the crown court, where the legal process will formally proceed. I'll be following this one closely—check back for updates as the proceedings develop.