Catholic 'Trainee' Nun, Pleads Guilty To Killing Her Newborn After Giving Birth In Convent

A trainee Catholic nun has pleaded guilty to smothering her newborn after giving birth in her room at a Washington, D.C. convent so no-one would hear him cry.

Sosefina Amoa, 26, gave birth just five days after moving to the U.S. to begin a five-month program to officially join the convent. DailyMail reports that on that fateful day, October 10, Amoa asked to be excused from her duties and went to her room. She delivered Joseph that morning. 

Afraid the nuns would hear her newborn's cries and discover she had lied about her sexual activity, Amoa allegedly covered the crying boy's mouth and nose with a wool garment for several minutes.The young woman told police she didn't know what to do, and was afraid that someone would learn of her pregnancy.

When she removed the garment, the child had stopped breathing. She wrapped the child in Samoan garb, placed the child on her bed...remained in her room' until the next morning when she showed the infant to a sister at the convent. reports say Amoa told the nun she had found the baby outside the convent and both women took the body in a black bag to the hospital.

Amoa has now accepted a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter, punishable by 30 years behind bars, after admitting she killed baby Joseph at Little Sisters of the Poor convent on October 10. 

She was charged with first-degree murder after the death was ruled a homicide by asphyxiation. At the incident, she told police she did not know she was pregnant.

The Little Sisters of the Poor said: 'We all feel this is a very tragic situation. We are just praying for everyone involved. Now that it is in the hands of the legal system, we will not be providing any further comment'

According to the arrest warrant, Amoa 'began Religious Formation, which included religious classes, doctrine, and prayer life'.The woman was considered a postulant - someone who wants to be admitted to the order.