Trial begins for mom accused of murdering newborns

A trial is underway against a Calgary woman accused of second-degree murder in the deaths of two of her newborns.

Meredith Katharine Borowiec is also accused of attempted murder of a third newborn that was found by the father in a northwest Calgary dumpster in 2010.

A year after that discovery, investigators learned that Borowiechad given birth twice before, in 2008 and 2009.

It is alleged both babies died shortly after they were born. Their bodies were never recovered.

As the Crown began laying out its double second-degree murder case against Borowiec on Tuesday, the first witness was a police officer who was on the scene on Oct. 20, 2010, when a baby was found alive in northwest Calgary garbage bin.

The officertold court he found the accused sitting on some steps nearby with blood on a blanket that was wrapped around her waist.

The officer said while he accompanied Borowiec to the hospital, she told the medics that she had given birth earlier that day and that she didnt know what to do.

Voir dire information not yet ruled on

The evidencewas given in a voir dire a hearing to determine what evidence can be presented at the trial.

Court of Queens Bench Justice Peter MacIntyrehas not yet ruled on its admissibility in the judge-only trial.

The Crown is arguing the officers testimony should be ruled "similar fact evidence" for the current double second-degree murder trial.

Borowiec is still in a relationship with the man who says he fathered the baby found in the dumpster. He was in court on Tuesday morning.

CBC News has learned she gave birth againin July while she was in custody at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre.

The baby boy was given up for adoption.

The trial is set to run until May 4.