Zhang Weixian, a 20-year-old from Yunnan Province, told the Zhabei District People's Court she felt sick to her stomach on February 26 and asked her boss if she could have the day off work. She then returned to the dorm room provided by Shaoxing Restaurant on Xizang Road N.

At around 6pm, she went to the washroom and soon gave birth, she told the court. The unmarried woman said she only has a primary school education so she didn't realize she was pregnant until she had the baby.

According to her calculation, she got pregnant during a trip to hometown last year when she spent time with her boyfriend surnamed Li.

"I only took a glimpse at the baby and didn't know if it was a boy or girl. I tore the umbilical cord and threw it down from the washroom window," Zhang told the court.

She said she thought the baby was dead as it made no noise and didn't move. An autopsy showed the baby was alive at birth, the court heard.

"I was afraid of being fired by the restaurant and also afraid of sneers from my co-workers," said Zhang, who earned 700 yuan (US$87) a month. Her co-workers found the dead baby lying beside their dorm building when they returned home, and they quickly called the police. Since Zhang was the only person in the building during the day, she soon became the major suspect.