A French woman accused of killing eight of her newborns over more than a decade is awaiting a verdict after a dramatic murder trial.
Dominique Cottrez, who is 51 and has two grown daughters, faces up to life in prison if convicted by the court in the northern city of Douai.
Prosecutor Eric Vaillant sought a sentence of 18 years because she suffered from psychological problems and from proven neuroses, according to Mr Vaillant’s office.
Ms Cottrez told investigators that she was raped by her father and was involved in a long, incestuous relationship with him, and feared the babies were children of incest.
But during the trial, she said that she had not been raped by her father, according to French media reports.