The grandmother of a baby who died after being left home alone by her mother for six days says she is still 'haunted' by her death.
20-month-old Asiah Kudi tragically died after her mother, Verphy Kudi, left her alone in their flat in Brighton for five days.
Kudi left her daughter to go out and celebrate her 18th birthday, returning from partying for five days to find Asiah dead in her cot.
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The young mum was jailed for nine years in August 2021 after admitting one count of manslaughter at Lewes Crown Court, with Judge Christine Laing saying Asiah had suffered 'almost unimaginable suffering'.
The baby's grandmother, Asia Batrane, recently appeared at an inquest into the tragedy where she broke down in tears as she recalled the death.
Batrane says she didn't know Asiah was being left at home on her own and if she did, she would have been there to help.
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"The idea of her being alone in the flat haunts me today. There is no question if I knew she had been left alone I would have gone to the flat picked her up and brought her home," she said at The Freedom Centre in Brighton.
"When she was born everyone fell in love with her instantly. She had the most beautiful dark brown eyes.
"Even if she was doing something naughty, when I looked into her eyes I just gave in. It was impossible to be angry with her."
The gran explained how baby Asiah loved watching her cook in the kitchen and going to the park to feed the ducks - a spot she now avoids passing because the 'memories are too difficult to face'.
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Batrane said her granddaughter was also known as Neveah because it meant 'heaven': "When Nevaeh was born my anxiety passed, there was six people in the room to welcome her into the world, this beautiful little baby, she was tiny.
"My grandmother instinct to protect her kicked in. She felt closer to me than a granddaughter and more like my own daughter. Nevaeh a peaceful baby, she only cried when she was hungry or if her nappy was dirty."
She went on to explain how her granddaughter made a 'big impact' on the family, who 'spoiled' her with gifts.
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"She was such a blessing to our whole family. She reminded us what it is to love so unconditionally. It was the biggest celebration we had for her. Nobody knew that she was not going to be here for long.
"Naveah's family, myself, her grandfather and her aunties loved her with everything we had. We are struggling with her loss. We miss her every day."
Asiah died from starvation and dehydration in December 2019 after being left alone in the flat.
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Kudi had travelled from Brighton to Coventry, London and Solihull to celebrate her birthday, with it later being revealed it was not the first time Asiah had been left alone.
Bertrane said she hadn't been informed of her granddaughter being left alone by her mum on several occasions and said social services were supposed to contact her if there were concerns about Audi's behaviour.
She said: "They were supposed to contact me if they were worried about Verphy, nobody told me they needed help, no one communicated to me that Verphy was going out, no one told me Nevaeh was being left alone.
"I did not find Nevaeh was alone until the trial."
Jess Battison