Bourne Baby Murder Charges
Man and woman face murder charges in eight-week-old baby's death in Bourne
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Key Points
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Liam Neve is 26 and from Spinney Close, Grimoldby, Louth, while Lauren Murgatroyd is 26 and from Novak Place, Morecambe, Lancashire, highlighting their distinct home locations involved in the case.
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The incident occurred on October 31, 2023, at an address in Bourne, Lincolnshire, with an eight-week-old baby taken to hospital where they later died, triggering a large-scale investigation.
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Detailed charges include: Liam Neve faces murder, making a false statement concerning birth, causing or allowing the death of a child, two counts of ABH, two counts of Section 18 GBH, and two counts of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm; Lauren Murgatroyd faces murder, making a false statement concerning birth, causing or allowing the death of a child, two counts of Section 18 GBH, and two counts of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm.
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The pair are due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 24 June 2026 as the case progresses through the judicial process.
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Detective Chief Inspector Andy McWatt described the case as 'deeply devastating' and said the investigation has been ongoing since the 2023 death, underscoring the force’s commitment to seeking justice for the baby.
Two people have been charged with the murder of an eight-week-old baby who died in Bourne, Lincolnshire, nearly three years after the child was found critically ill on October 31, 2023. BBC reports that Liam Neve, 26, and Lauren Murgatroyd, 26, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on June 24, 2026, following what police described as a "complex and large-scale" investigation.
The pair face a combined 16 charges between them. Beyond murder, both are accused of making a false statement concerning birth, causing or allowing the death of a child, two counts of Section 18 grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. Neve faces two additional counts of actual bodily harm that Murgatroyd does not, according to Mirror.
How the Baby's Death Triggered a Three-Year Probe
Police were called to an address in Bourne on Halloween night, 2023. The eight-week-old baby was rushed to hospital but later died. Officers made two arrests in December 2023 — a 23-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man — but both were released on bail. The investigation ran for approximately 967 days before charges were finally filed on June 23, 2026, according to Daily Record.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy McWatt, who led the Major Crime Unit probe, said the force has "continued to investigate this tragic death since 2023." He called it a "deeply devastating" case and said police are now "seeking justice in memory of the baby." The long timeline, he indicated, reflects the depth and complexity of the forensic work involved.
Where the Two Defendants Come From and What They Face
Neve is from Spinney Close, Grimoldby, Louth, in Lincolnshire. Murgatroyd lives at Novak Place, Morecambe, Lancashire — more than 100 miles from the scene of the alleged crime. Their different home addresses stretch the case across two counties. Both were 26 at the time of charging, BBC confirmed.
Neve's charge sheet is longer than Murgatroyd's. He faces nine counts in total, including two ABH charges she does not share. Section 18 GBH — grievous bodily harm with intent — carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Legal analysts say the ABH and GBH charges suggest a pattern of alleged physical harm to the child before the fatal incident on October 31, 2023.
The Rare 'False Statement' Charge Explained
One charge stands out as unusual in a murder case: making a false statement concerning birth. Under UK law, deliberately giving false information about a birth to a registrar is a criminal offense. Prosecutors rarely bring this charge alongside a murder count. Investigators suggest it points to a possible attempt to hide details about the baby's existence or identity from the very start.
The charge of "causing or allowing the death of a child" is also significant. It was created under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 to close a legal loophole. Before this law, two suspects could each blame the other for a child's death, making conviction nearly impossible. Now, both can be prosecuted even if it cannot be proven which one dealt the fatal blow.
What Happens Next in the Court Process
After their June 24 appearance at Lincoln Magistrates' Court, the case will move to the Crown Court. Murder cases cannot be decided at magistrates' level in England and Wales. Under UK law, bail for murder must be considered by a Crown Court judge within 48 hours of the initial hearing. No trial date has yet been set, according to Daily Record.
The case is expected to trigger a Child Safeguarding Practice Review — a formal inquiry into whether local authorities missed warning signs before the baby died. Such reviews are standard in cases of child death involving criminal charges. DCI McWatt said the force remains "committed to seeking justice" as the case progresses through the courts.
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