Mother accused of setting newborn alight

A woman accused of setting fire to her newborn baby girl in the middle of a road has been charged with murder.

Burlington County prosecutors said Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 22, of Pemberton Township, New Jersey, was in custody on $500,000 (€432,,000) bail.

She tried to flee after starting the fire but was detained by residents, according to a witness. Police came upon the horrific scene after receiving a call about a fire in the middle of a road in the township, about 50km east of Philadelphia.

Officers found the baby in flames and put out the fire.

The child was reportedly alive and breathing at the time she was flown to a hospital in Philadelphia, said Joel Bewley, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. But she died about two hours later.

Authorities believe the mother doused her baby with an accelerant then set her on fire, Mr Bewley said.