She was a small, fragile image on the courtroom video screen.
In an oversized, jail-issued black sweatshirt, her hair parted in the middle and pulled tight in a ponytail, Jennifer Sinn, 32, the London mother charged after three infant bodies were found in a storage tote box in a townhouse, made her first video court appearance yesterday.
Sinn is charged with three counts of causing an indignity to a body and disposing a child's body with intent to conceal delivery.
Two women sat among a group of reporters in the cramped courtroom. One of them was identified as Sinn's mother. The other was a sign language interpreter.
Police believe the woman gave birth to the children in 2001, 2002 and 2006. Sinn's former boyfriend found the bodies while he was searching for photographs in the basement of the northeast London home at 1302 Sandford St. on June 6.
Sinn lived there with him and their three children.
During her court appearance, Sinn identified herself before having a private conversation by telephone with her defence lawyer, Jeanine LeRoy.
LeRoy asked the case be adjourned to July 16 "for the purpose of obtaining some disclosure."
LeRoy said she had the charge sheets for two of Sinn's six counts.
Outside the courtroom, LeRoy said the Crown had indicated to her more time was needed to get all Sinn's case information together.
"That's usual in these types of cases," she said. "I have very little right now but I expect more very soon."
LeRoy also hinted there might be a pitch made for Sinn's release.
"We will be considering if and when we are bringing a bail application and whether that will be before or after July 16. We haven't decided."
Sinn had originally faced charges concerning one child, but further tests revealed there were three infant remains.
Causes of death are yet to be determined because of the serious decomposition of the small bodies at autopsy. DNA tests are also being done to identify the children's genders and fathers.
Both Ontario's chief pathologist, Michael Pollanen, and a forensic anthropologist were involved in the autopsies.
Sinn's case returns to court by video next month.
