Asiah Kudi: Grandmother's statement as inquest concludes

Asiah Kudi died after she was abandoned at supported accommodation in Islingword Road, Brighton, by her teenage mother Verphy Kudi. She left her to party in London and Coventry for six days.

Now Asiah's grandmother Asia Batrane has spoken of her disappointment that more evidence was not heard from accommodation staff.

Speaking about her granddaughter, affectionately known by the family as Navaeh, Ms Batrane said: “Naveah was the light of our lives. She was adored by all of us, her grandfather and her aunties, who loved her more than anything.

Verphy Kudi holding Asiah Kudi

“In light of the inquest hearing that took place in the last couple of weeks, we as a family have had so many unanswered questions in the circumstances leading up to her passing.

“In our view, attempts made to answer our questions proved to be futile.

“We are disappointed that we did not hear evidence from the staff who were supposed to do increased CCTV checks after safeguarding concerns were raised about Naveah’s care in October 2019.”

A five-day long inquest concluded that Asiah was unlawfully killed in December 2019.

In a pen portrait read at the beginning of the inquest held at Sussex University, Ms Batrane said: "Everyone fell in love with her [Asiah] instantly. She reminded us what it is to love unconditionally.

"The thought of Naveah in the flat alone haunts me to this day.

"Her family, myself, her grandfather and her aunties loved her with everything we had.

"We are struggling with her loss. We miss her every day."

Health workers gave evidence that Verphy, then 18, had a lot of support available for her and her daughter.

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Health visitor Julie Davidson told the inquest: “She had a health visitor, a nursery nurse.

“She had a lot of professionals in place, she just didn’t access them.”

No serious concerns were raised by supported accommodation staff over Verphy Kudi’s parenting.

Giving her conclusion, senior coroner Penelope Schofield delivered a narrative verdict saying social service could not have predicted the “tragic events” leading to Asiah’s death.

Verphy Kudi arriving at court in 2021

She said: “There is nothing the services could have done to foresee the tragic events that occurred.

“The circumstances of Asiah’s death could not have been predicted.

“These were criminal acts so outside normal or predictable human behaviour.”

Verphy Kudi admitted manslaughter in 2021 and at Lewes Crown Court was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Verphy Kudi (Image: Sussex Police)

The court head heard how Asiah had learned crying for help was pointless.

Kudi, now 21, listened to the inquest via a Teams audio link from HMP Bronzefield.

The family have asked for their privacy to be respected  as they “figure out what our next steps in finding out the answers to our questions will be”.