A man and a woman in their 20s are to face trial over allegations that they were involved in an illegal abortion.
Elliot Benham and Sophie Harvey, both 23, are jointly accused of procuring a poison to cause a miscarriage, concealing the birth of a child and intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of a baby’s body.
Harvey has also been charged with procuring her own miscarriage by poison or use of an instrument.
During a brief hearing at Gloucestershire magistrates court in Cheltenham, the defendants spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth. They did not enter pleas to the charges.
Sue Gethin, prosecuting, asked for the case to be transferred to Gloucester crown court owing to the serious nature of the alleged offences.
Paul Gilmartin, defending, told the court: “Both deny any unlawful acts.”
Gloucestershire constabulary searched locations in Swindon and Cirencester as part of the investigation in September 2020. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1 September and 1 December 2018.
In a statement issued earlier this week when the pair were charged, police said: “In England abortions are legal up to 24 weeks’ gestation if carried out by a registered medical practitioner, and can be carried out after 24 weeks in very limited circumstances. The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 states it is a criminal offence to try to cause your own abortion.
“It is alleged in this case that the pregnancy was past 24 weeks and was not carried out by a registered medical practitioner.”
Benham, of Swindon, and Harvey, of Cirencester, were released on conditional bail and told to appear at Gloucester crown court on 3 February.
The district judge, Nicholas Wattam, said: “This case is serious and has to go to the crown court for trial.”
