A baby who starved to death after being left alone by her teenage mum did not cry for help because she knew it was no use, a court was told.
Verphy Kudi, 19, was jailed for nine years on Friday (August 6) after she left her 20-month-old daughter alone 11 times in two months.
The teenager took several days away from her Brighton home to attend a 90s music concert in Elephant and Castle, South London, where a DJ announced her birthday to the crowd.
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Verphy Kudi’s daughter Asiah Kudi died at home in Brighton in December 2019
(Image: Twitter)
Verphy’s baby, meanwhile, was left in a “supported housing” block in Brighton – 50 miles away.
Prosecutors said Aisiah sadly died from starvation and influenza after being left unattended for five days, 21 hours and 58 minutes.
Paramedics were called to the flat in December 2019 after Kudi had returned.
She was found “incoherent, distressed and distraught” and her daughter on the floor.
Verphy Kudi was charged after her daughter Asiah died at her flat
(Image: Twitter)
Dr Nicola Cleghorn, the consultant paediatrician who reviewed the case, told the court Aisiah had probably learned that crying out was pointless.
This is why, Dr Cleghorn explained, neighbours did not hear the baby while she was left on her own.
Kudi was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, pleading guilty to manslaughter.
The 19-year-old broke down in tears as she was taken away by court staff.
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Judge Laing told the court the baby had endured “almost unimaginable suffering” as she died.
“She was a helpless young child and relied completely on you as her mother to proved for her needs,” she added.
She said Kudi “grossly abused her trust” and prioritised her “desire to celebrate her birthday and the birthday of her friends” over the needs of her child.
She branded Kudi “deceitful and manipulative”, adding: ‘You knew full well you should not be doing what you were doing.
“It is a particularly distressing aspect of this case that it is unlikely she would have cried for any time because she had learned on many occasions there would have been no response.”
Defending QC Peter Wilcock described the case as “truly tragic and devastating”.
He added: “She herself, the defendant, is both very young and we would submit very vulnerable.”
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