A teen mother was sentenced to nine years in prison for leaving her daughter at home to starve to death while she travelled to celebrate her 18th birthday.
Verphy Kudi left Asiah, a 20-month-old baby, at her Brighton flat for nearly six days as she partied in London and Coventry.
On December 5, she moved out of her flat and headed to London to celebrate her birthday with her lover.
While her daughter was alone at home, she went to a 1990s music concert in Elephant and Castle, south London, and had a DJ announce her birthday to partygoers. At the show, she stayed out till 4 a.m.
She went to another party in Coventry on December 9, then returned to London before coming home on December 11.
Asiah died of influenza and malnutrition after being left unattended at the flat, according to prosecutors.
On December 11, 2019, Kudi, now 19, came to her flat and discovered her daughter laying on the floor. As she contacted paramedics, she was “incoherent, upset, and distraught.”
Asiah was transported to Brighton’s Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital at 6.12 pm on December 11, 2019, but she was unable to be saved and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Verphy Kudi pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced today, August 6, at Lewes Crown Court.
“Asiah was alone in that flat for six days, unable to do anything to call attention to her plight,” Judge Christine Laing QC said in sentencing Kudi.
“She was a defenseless child who fully relied on you, her mother, to provide for her needs.
“It’s almost heartbreaking to think about her suffering in her final days, the agony she experienced so that you may have carefree adolescence and enjoy your birthday and the birthdays of your friends.
“It goes without saying that this is a particularly tragic case, and it no doubt evokes strong emotions in all who hear of it,” Judge Laing added. “However, everyone should keep in mind that the charge I sentence you for is manslaughter, it being accepted that you did not intend to cause Asiah death or really serious harm.”
