Social workers could not have foreseen the death of baby
Social workers could not have foreseen the death of a 20-month-old baby who was left alone for nearly six days by her mother who went out partying, coroner rules
- 20-month-old Asiah Kudi died after her mother left her alone at a Brighton flat
- Verphy Kudi went out partying with friends to celebrate her 18th birthday
- East Sussex coroner records a conclusion of ‘unlawful killing’ into baby’s death
A 20-month-old baby girl who starved to death in her cot after being left home alone by her mother did not die due to failures in the system, an inquest has found.
Asiah Kudi, aged 20 months, died after her mother Verphy Kudi left her alone for almost six days at a supported housing unit in Brighton.
Instead of caring for her baby, Kudi went out partying with friends to celebrate her 18th birthday.
She travelled to London to see her boyfriend before going to Coventry and Solihull, more than 150 miles away, to party.
The young mother only returned to her flat at the housing unit after five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes.
A post-mortem examination and forensic tests found that Asiah starved, was dehydrated and developed flu. Her cause of death was given as neglect
A post mortem later found Asiah died of starvation and the effects of flu in December 2019
She found Asiah dead in her cot but did not call an ambulance for almost three hours.
A post mortem later found Asiah died of starvation and the effects of flu in December 2019.
In August 2021, Kudi was jailed for nine years after admitting one count of manslaughter at Lewes Crown Court with Judge Christine Laing telling Kudi her daughter had endured ‘almost unimaginable suffering’.
It later materialised that Verphy had left Asiah home alone in the flat on numerous occasions in the weeks leading up to her death.
Penelope Schofield, coroner for East Sussex, said on Wednesday that social services and key workers could not have predicted Asiah’s death.
She said that despite concerns Kudi had been leaving Asiah in the flat alone to go outside and smoke cigarettes no one could have foreseen she would abandon her for so long and allow her to starve to death.
Recording a conclusion of ‘unlawful killing’, Ms Schofield said: ‘With the benefit of hindsight it is so very easy to be critical of all those involved.
‘Nobody dealing with Asiah would have wanted her to come to any harm. I think it is unlikely anything more could have been done.
‘There is nothing services could have done which would have foreseen the tragic events that happened.’
The inquest was told Kudi (pictured) had a habit of lying about her whereabouts, not just to social workers and staff at Gocher Court, but also to her mother, Asia Batrane
The inquest heard Verphy Kudu had a difficult childhood and had witnessed domestic violence at home and had also been bullied in secondary school.
As a result of these and a series of separate events she was left traumatised and suffering the effects of PTSD.
The hearing was told social services stepped in and Kudi spent six months in a residential children’s home.
When she became pregnant with Asiah at the age of 16 Asiah was made the subject of a pre-birth protection plan.
Kudi gave birth to Asiah in February 2018 and mother and baby were still under the care of social services.
However the protection plan in was stopped in September 2018 and Kudi went to live with her mother.
When it became unsustainable for her to continue living with her mother, Kudi and Asiah moved into Gochers Court in September 2019.
The supported housing unit in Brighton – which has eight flats – is run by YMCA DownsLink and has staff on the premises 24 hours a day.
Verphy Kudi, pictured above, was just 16 when she became pregnant with Asiah
Staff at Gochers Court became concerned about Kudi’s parenting after a series of incidents at the supported housing unit.
After watching CCTV footage of Kudi leaving her baby daughter in the flat alone while she went to smoke cigarettes outside, staff contacted social workers.
CCTV showed that on October 11 Kudi dropped off her daughter with her mother, Asia Batrane, at around midnight before going out partying with friends.
In the early hours of the morning CCTV showed Kudi being carried back into her flat ‘clearly intoxicated and mostly unconscious’ by male friend.
At around midday the following day Ms Batrane returned Asiah to Kudi at Gocher Court.
Verphy Kudi, pictured, pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court to one count of manslaughter
On October 17 footage showed that around 3am Kudi was spotted smoking outside the housing unit for between 15-30 mins.
Jakki Cahill, Kudi’s social worker, said both incidents were ‘concerning’ and, as a result, Kudi was banned form having guests for one week.
Steps were also taken to refer the case to Front Door for Families – which has special expertise in child safeguarding – but the referral was never made.
However staff were not aware that Kudi was abandoning her baby for far longer periods of time.
Verphy Kudi was pictured at a concert in London while her baby was left alone in Brighton
After Asiah’s death it was found she had left her baby alone in the flat on at least seven occasions ranging between one hour and more than two days.
The inquest was told Kudi had a habit of lying about her whereabouts, not just to social workers and staff at Gochers Court, but also to her mother, Asia Batrane.
Earlier the inquest was told Kudi was a heavy cannabis user who suffered from severe psychological problems.
The hearing was told Kudi had a difficult childhood and had witnessed domestic violence at home.
As a result of this and a series of separate events she was left traumatised and suffering the effects of PTSD.
Dr Frank Farnham, consultant forensic psychiatrist, who examined Kudi said the teenager used cannabis to a ‘harmful’ level.
In a statement read to the inquest he said she used to Class B drug to ‘self-medicate’ at times of ‘anxiety or depression.’
He said she had a ‘harmful pattern of cannabis use’ which had an effect on her physical health.
READ MORE: Mother jailed after leaving her baby to starve to death while she went on six-day 18th birthday party spree says child’s father should not be involved in her inquest
Earlier Kudi’s mother, Asia Batrane, broke down in tears as she told the inquest she was still ‘haunted’ by the death of her granddaughter.
She said she had no idea her granddaughter was being left home alone and would have stepped in to help.
She said: ‘The idea of her being alone in the flat haunts me today. There is no question if I knew she had been left alone I would have gone to the flat picked her up and brought her home.
‘When she was born everyone fell in love with her instantly. She had the most beautiful dark brown eyes.
‘Even if she was doing something naughty, when I looked into her eyes I just gave in. It was impossible to be angry with her. You felt yourself melting when she looked at you.’
The inquest heard there should have been more ‘professional curiosity’ into Asiah’s care.
Edina Carmi, who carried out a child safeguarding review, said: ‘I think there should have been more curiosity, not just from professionals but family members as well.
‘Verphy was a 17-year-old with this huge responsibility, placed in a supported placement, living pretty independently with a child, and that’s a large burden for anyone.’
Timeline of the tragedy: Mother’s marathon drinking session as her baby starved to death
- December 5, 2019: Kudi left Brighton and went to London where she spent her 18th birthday with her boyfriend.
- December 7: She went to a concert in Elephant and Castle, London, and stayed out until 4am.
- December 9: She moved on to a birthday party in Coventry – 150 miles from Brighton – before returning to London the next day.
- December 11: She returned home to East Sussex. She got in at 3.38pm to discover Asiah dead
She said: ‘Overall you have a huge amount of resources and assessment put in and there was some high quality work going in but at the same time there was not enough attention about what was going on inside Verphy’s head in that she projected such a calm, capable persona.
‘Not enough curiosity or digging was done as to where she was going and what she was doing.’
On December 5 2019 Asiah was left alone with no food or water in her cot while her mother went out partying.
She returned on December 11 shortly after 3.00pm but did not dial 999 until 6.06pm and told the call handler her daughter was ‘not waking up’.
Asiah – who paramedics noticed had signs of rigor mortis – was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead
Last year a safeguarding review by the Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership was published.
It found found Asiah’s death could not have been predicted as staff at the YMCA DownsLink believed Verphy was a capable and loving parent.
However, the body’s independent report made 17 recommendations, including bringing in a system of daily checks at YMCA DownsLink.
It also recommended regularly reviewing every young parent in supported accommodation, and reviewing how risks are assessed.
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