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KILLER MUM
Teen mum left baby to starve to death while she went on six-day bender to celebrate 18th birthday
A TEEN mum left her baby to starve to death while she went on a six-day bender to celebrate her 18th birthday.
Verphy Kudi, now 19, was captured on CCTV leaving little Asiah alone in the flat in Brighton on her birthday.
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Data gathered by Sussex Police showed she had attended parties in London, Coventry and Solihull during the six-day bender.
After she returned home, Kudi called 999 saying her baby would not wake up.
Little Asiah was rushed to Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton but was tragically declared dead on arrival.
A post-mortem exam and subsequent forensic tests found baby Asiah was dehydrated and starved and died from neglect.
KILLER MUM
Kudi, who wept in the dock today at Lewes Crown Court, has now pleaded guilty to manslaughter between December 4 and 12.
She had been due to stand trial later this year but her plea was accepted by the prosecution.
The mum will be sentenced on May 28 pending a psychology report - but was warned this date could be delayed.
Kudi, who has been in prison since being charged in October last year, was remanded in custody.
No further details of how the tragic tot was left alone for so long were disclosed at the brief hearing.
'HEART IS BROKEN'
At the time, Kudi was living in supported housing for young families run by the YMCA on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council.
Staff at the unit called police after reviewing CCTV footage following the baby's death.
Asiah was under a child protection plan but there was no social worker assigned when she died.
A safeguarding review has been launched by Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP).
Judge Christine Laing QC ordered all social services records relating to the case be disclosed to the defence ahead of sentencing.
Speaking after the hearing, Asiah's grandad Muba Kudi, 59, said: “My heart is so broken.
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“My daughter was missing. She had been missing since the age of 14.”
Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP) said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Asiah. In our safeguarding role, we will work with our partners to look into what has happened and carry out a Child Safeguarding Practice Review.
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'This includes working with our partner Sussex Police to make sure our review is carried out in support of or alongside their ongoing actions in this case."
Senior Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andy Wolstenholme said; "This was a particularly distressing case for my team and me to investigate, and has caused great sorrow amongst Verphy's family and the many agencies that have supported Verphy and Asiah."
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