Who was to blame for letting mother kill her baby Asiah who starved to death while she partied for six days? Inquest hears how social workers had 'concerns' before child died of 'unimaginable suffering'
- Verphy Kudi left daughter at home to go on a six-day trip for her 18th birthday
- Inquest found that 20-month-old Asiah starved to death after being left alone
- Comes after it was revealed social workers had 'concerns' for the child
- Kudi tried to cover up crime after returning to find her daughter dead and stiff
Social workers had 'concerns' for a 20-month-old baby who died of 'unimaginable suffering' while her mother partied for six days, an inquest has heard.
Brighton and Hove City Council is under fire over its care for Asiah, who died when her mother Verphy Kudi went out drinking for her 18th birthday.
Kudi left her baby at home while she went on the marathon boozing sessions in London, Coventry and Solihull.
A pre-inquest hearing at Brighton Coroners' Court heard how Asiah had been left alone half a dozen times by the teen mother before the child starved to death.
Assistant Coroner Karen Henderson said today she will focus her inquiry into who was responsible for the mother and daughter before the tragedy in December 2019.
Kudi admitted manslaughter and was jailed for nine years after a court heard her daughter went through 'unimaginable suffering'.
The mother, now 19, tried to cover up her crime after returning home to find her daughter dead and stiff with rigor mortis.
She spent nearly three hours with her dead baby in their Brighton YMCA flat before dialling 999.
Asiah was taken to Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton where she was pronounced dead on December 11, 2019.
Verphy Kudi walked out on her daughter on a six-day trip to celebrate her 18th birthday and came home to find her dead and stiff with rigor mortis (pictured together)
Kudi is seen in handcuffs outside Lewes Crown Court, where she was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to manslaughter
A post-mortem examination and forensic tests found that Asiah starved, was dehydrated and developed flu. Her cause of death was given as neglect Mrs Henderson said the inquest would be a fearless examination of the circumstances surrounding Asiah's death.
The coroner said: 'What I'm concerned about is the care that Asiah had during her short life.'
She added: 'There were concerns she was leaving her for periods of time,' the coroner said.
The inquest will examine the support she was offered by Brighton and Hove City Council and the YMCA.
Mrs Henderson continued: 'The inquest will look at issues and circumstances in the past where she has been left.
'I need information on the overall care that was provided to Asiah and her mother from BHCC.'
At the time of her death, Asiah did not have her own social worker or involvement from any external agencies. A social worker was assigned to her mother.
During her trial, the court heard Kudi had been a happy girl growing up, 'whose laughter would light up the whole house'.
But from the age of 14 she became withdrawn and began truanting from school and going missing from home.
Social services stepped in and she was assigned a social worker and moved to a placement at a safe house in Norfolk.
But there were concerns she had become involved in child sexual exploitation and she fell pregnant and moved back to Brighton.
She was moved in with foster carers before Asiah was born on March 22, 2018. The baby was placed on a child protection plan.
They moved in with Kudi's mother Asiah but three months before the tragedy - in the September - Kudi and Asiah were moved to a flat for vulnerable families.
She was one of eight young people living in a flat in the complex run by charity YMCA DownsLink on behalf of Brighton City Council.
Kudi, who lived in a supported housing complex in Brighton, left her baby alone she partied in London and Coventry
Pictured: Screengrabs taken from mobile phone footage dated December 8 of Kudi at a concert in Elephant and Castle London
Pictured: Screengrab taken from CCTV dated December 11 of Kudi returning to her home in Brighton where she had abandoned her 20-month-old daughterThe flats are independent units and staff do not enter the living areas or carry out regular inspections.
But there are members of staff located in a reception entrance to the block 24 hours a day.
YMCA Downslink offers a 'medium to low' level of support for families, with all flats self-contained with their own kitchen, space for staff on duty, and a communal area.
Kudi settled in well in the flat but the court heard she began to abandon her daughter alone to meet up with friends and go out to parties.
Kudi broke down in tears as she was jailed for nine years and taken away by court staff
In the three months leading up to her death there were at least six other occasions she left Asiah alone in the flat - once for two whole days.
Speaking at the inquest, Geoffrey Weddell, representing the YMCA, said they would provide details of the tenancy agreement as evidence at the inquest.
'The YMCA has the tenancy agreement, tenancy specification, notes of contacts made with the mother giving day-by-day account of what was seen and said and what was going on at that time.
'The YMCA provided support limited to two hours a week. Most of the time, it wouldn't be aware of day to day events to do with mother and daughter.
'The YMCA is primarily an accommodation provider,' he said. The child's grandparents Muba Kudi and Asia Betrane followed the hearing online.
Jacqueline Madders, who spoke for Mrs Betrane, asked the coroner if the inquest will look at prevention.
She asked: 'Could this death have been prevented had the services been engaged given the history.'
The coroner replied: 'This will be explored at inquest. The inquest will look at the wider circumstances surrounding her death.
'The medical cause of death, the Post Mortem, toxicology and past medical history. The direct and wider circumstances surrounding Asiah's death.'
Kudi, who is serving her sentence at HMP Bronzefield, will be an interested person entitled to representation at the inquest.
The court heard Asiah's father will also be offered IP status if he can be located.
The coroner said: 'I offer my very sincere condolences to the family of Asiah for her death.' A full inquest is expected to start in March next year and will last three days.
In the three months leading up to her death there were at least six other occasions she left Asiah alone in the flat (pictured in an undated photo) - once for two whole days
Kudi appeared in the dock at Lewes Crown Court on August 6 for sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
She broke down in tears as she was jailed for nine years and taken away by court staff.
Judge Laing said the baby had gone through 'almost unimaginable suffering' before dying alone in the flat.
She added: 'She was a helpless young child and relied completely on you as her mother to proved for her needs.'
She said Kudi 'grossly abused her trust' and had prioritised her desire to 'celebrate your birthday and the birthday of friends' rather than the needs of her child.
Wearing a black jacket and a face mask, Kudi bowed her head as details of the final days of her daughter's life were read out in the courtroom.
Prosecutor Sally Howes QC said CCTV covering Kudi's home showed she had left Asiah alone in the flat for five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes.
Kudi left Brighton on December 5 and went to London where she spent her birthday with her boyfriend.
On December 7 she attended a concert in Elephant and Castle and stayed out until 4am.
It had been previously been revealed Kudi tried to sell concert tickets on Twitter on the day the baby's body was found
Another tweet showed her attempting to become a Pretty Little Thing model months after Asiah's death
On December 9 she moved on to a party in Coventry — 150 miles from Brighton — before returning to London the next day and home to East Sussex on December 11.
Kudi returned to the flat at 3.38pm on December 11 but did not call emergency services for more than two hours.
In that time she was seen emptying bags into a communal bin area before going back to her flat.
She eventually dialled 999 and told the call handler her daughter was 'not waking up'.
She told paramedics Asiah had been sleeping all day she had given her milk and Calpol and let her sleep.
Ambulance staff arrived at Kudi's Brighton flat and Asiah was taken to the city's Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival.
Sentencing Kudi, Judge Christine Laing QC said: 'Asiah was alone in that flat for six days - less two hours - unable to do anything to draw attention to her plight.
'She was a helpless child and relied completely on you as her mother to provide for her needs.
'It is almost unbearable to contemplate her suffering in the final days of her life, suffering that she endured so that you could celebrate your birthday and the birthdays of your friends as a carefree teenager.'
'It goes without saying that this is a particularly tragic case and it no doubt raises strong emotions in all who hear of it, but everyone should bear in mind that the charge I sentence you for is one of manslaughter, it being accepted that you did not intend to cause Asiah death nor to cause her really serious harm.'
In a statement, Asiah and Verphy's family said previously: 'We are saddened by the current situation and as a family we have many unanswered questions.
'Verphy has experienced so much at such a young age and we have always done what we can to support her.
'As a family we are in the midst of an unbearable tragedy. Not only are we coming to terms with what has happened today but we are also still grieving for our beloved Asiah. We would be grateful if our privacy can be respected at this moment.'
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