A woman accused of procuring her own abortion has appeared in court.
The 24-year-old, who we have chosen not to name, faces a single charge of unlawfully administering prescription drug Misoprostol with intent to abort her unborn child in Oxford on January 27 last year.
She appeared before Oxford Crown Court on Thursday morning, where she entered no plea to the single charge.
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Judge Maria Lamb said she would adjourn the case until July 15, when a plea hearing is expected to take place. The judge ordered that a Portuguese interpreter attend court for the next hearing.
A provisional trial date was fixed for February 6 next year.
The unusual charge of procuring an abortion dates back to the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. That law also covers crimes like causing grievous bodily harm.
Like wounding with intent, the allegation is indictable-only, meaning it can only be dealt with at the crown court.
The maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
Julian Lynch appeared for the defendant during the short hearing at the St Aldates’ courthouse on Thursday.
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