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| Keegan Downer murder: Legal guardian Kandyce Downer jailed for life | Keegan Downer murder: Legal guardian Kandyce Downer jailed for life |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman who murdered a toddler she had subjected to "barbaric" abuse in her care has been jailed for life. | A woman who murdered a toddler she had subjected to "barbaric" abuse in her care has been jailed for life. |
| Kandyce Downer, 34, killed 18-month-old Keegan Downer less than a year after she was appointed her legal guardian. | Kandyce Downer, 34, killed 18-month-old Keegan Downer less than a year after she was appointed her legal guardian. |
| The toddler had 153 scars and bruises and suffered what police described as "barbaric and evil" treatment, sustaining brain and spinal injuries. | The toddler had 153 scars and bruises and suffered what police described as "barbaric and evil" treatment, sustaining brain and spinal injuries. |
| Downer, who must serve at least 18 years, told Birmingham Crown Court her eldest son had caused the injuries. | Downer, who must serve at least 18 years, told Birmingham Crown Court her eldest son had caused the injuries. |
| Keegan died on 5 September 2015. Before calling 999, Downer dumped her blood-spotted mattress, the court heard. | Keegan died on 5 September 2015. Before calling 999, Downer dumped her blood-spotted mattress, the court heard. |
| The short, sad life of Keegan Downer | The short, sad life of Keegan Downer |
| Forensic testing at the house revealed traces of the girl's blood in her cot and on the bedroom wall. | Forensic testing at the house revealed traces of the girl's blood in her cot and on the bedroom wall. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed the toddler died from a combination of old head injuries, septicaemia and blunt chest trauma but had suffered a catalogue of injuries in her life. | A post-mortem examination revealed the toddler died from a combination of old head injuries, septicaemia and blunt chest trauma but had suffered a catalogue of injuries in her life. |
| Live updates on this story | Live updates on this story |
| Mrs Justice Frances Patterson told Downer: "It is a horrible tale of callous conduct and at no stage have you showed any remorse. | Mrs Justice Frances Patterson told Downer: "It is a horrible tale of callous conduct and at no stage have you showed any remorse. |
| "Why you changed from a loving mother to a brutal attacker of a defenceless child is a mystery. | "Why you changed from a loving mother to a brutal attacker of a defenceless child is a mystery. |
| "You did not set out with the intention to kill Keegan but the repeated assaults on her made death as an outcome of your conduct increasingly likely passage of time." | "You did not set out with the intention to kill Keegan but the repeated assaults on her made death as an outcome of your conduct increasingly likely passage of time." |
| She concluded: "Keegan suffered considerably in the last days and months of her life." | She concluded: "Keegan suffered considerably in the last days and months of her life." |
| Foster carer to guardian | |
| Keegan was placed in foster care from an early age after being born in March 2014 to a heroin addict. Whilst with a foster family, she was a "healthy and happy baby", the court heard. | |
| Her foster carer had raised concerns with social services that Downer, who was a member of Keegan's extended family, may have had financial motivation. | |
| However, a guardianship order was granted to the mother-of-four in January 2015. | |
| The toddler attended nursery until June that year - described as "a turning point" by the judge because it ended any public scrutiny of Keegan's care. | |
| She was not seen by any health, care or social services professionals in the three months before her death. | |
| Her former foster carer, Jane Murray, said: "I spent the first 10 months of her short life loving, cuddling and teaching her, keeping her safe and helping her grow into the happy, pleasant little girl I knew." | |
| Elaine Downer, Keegan's paternal grandmother, said: "I can't understand how no-one noticed (her injuries) and that shocked me." | |
| An NSPCC spokesman said: "We hope this sentence will serve as a warning to deter others who would subject children in their care to such astonishing cruelty. | An NSPCC spokesman said: "We hope this sentence will serve as a warning to deter others who would subject children in their care to such astonishing cruelty. |
| "Little Keegan did not deserve to be treated so abhorrently in her short life. | "Little Keegan did not deserve to be treated so abhorrently in her short life. |
| "Questions must be asked about how a woman who was entrusted with caring for Keegan ended up killing her. | "Questions must be asked about how a woman who was entrusted with caring for Keegan ended up killing her. |
| "A Serious Case Review must examine in detail the use of the Special Guardianship Order as well as the assessment and long term support arrangements in this case." | "A Serious Case Review must examine in detail the use of the Special Guardianship Order as well as the assessment and long term support arrangements in this case." |
| Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board will conduct the Serious Case Review to establish if lessons can be learnt from the tragedy. | Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board will conduct the Serious Case Review to establish if lessons can be learnt from the tragedy. |
| It will publish its findings in summer. | It will publish its findings in summer. |