Verphy Kudi sentenced to nine years for baby's death

Verphy Kudi, who grew up in Southwark, walked out on her 20-month-old daughter on the day she turned 18, partying for five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes, while the baby starved to death.

Her daughter was dead when she returned to the flat in Brighton, where she had been housed by social services.

Asiah had contracted influenza. A post mortem examination concluded she died from neglect.

Kudi, 19, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, August 6.

Asiah was born on March 22, 2018. She and her mother were housed in a flat by social services since September 30, 2019.

A video released by police shows Kudi leaving her Islingword Road flat, on December 5, 2019, before videos of her partying at a 90s music event in Elephant and Castle.  

Prosecutor Sally Howes QC said CCTV covering Kudi’s home showed that she had left Asiah alone for five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes.

Asiah was pronounced dead on arrival at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

When first interviewed by police, Kudi maintained that she had been with her child at the flat all the time, except for one visit she made to London.

But the court heard how the police investigation found from CCTV, phone and other evidence from people who knew her, that Kudi left the flat on her 18th birthday and didn’t return until December 11, leaving her child alone and uncared for throughout that time.

Kudi had gone first to London, and then with friends to another's birthday party in Coventry, before returning to Brighton via London.

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.

Verphy Kudi

“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.”

Peter Wilcock QC, defending Kudi, said it is “truly a tragic and devastating case”.

“She herself, the defendant, is both very young and we would submit very vulnerable,” he said.

The prosecution, authorised by the CPS, followed an investigation by detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team.

The 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.