Police today charged a 19-year-old woman with one count of murder over the death of her newborn baby boy.

She was arrested on March 17 in Western District.

The case came to light at about 10.30pm on March 15 when the woman sought treatment at Queen Mary Hospital.

She told Police she had just given birth at her home in Western and had abandoned the boy.

Police conducted a search at a refuse station in Smithfield Road and located the baby who was sent to Queen Mary Hospital. He was later certified dead.