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| Kandyce Downer murder accused guardian found guilty | Kandyce Downer murder accused guardian found guilty |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman has been convicted of murdering a toddler who had suffered more than 150 injuries. | A woman has been convicted of murdering a toddler who had suffered more than 150 injuries. |
| 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. |
| Keegan was subjected to what police described as "barbaric and evil" treatment, suffering brain and spinal injuries and had 153 scars and bruises. | |
| On the day she died, Downer delayed calling 999 to dump her blood-spotted mattress, Birmingham Crown Court heard. | |
| Forensic testing at the house revealed traces of the girl's blood in her cot and on the bedroom wall. | |
| Downer had been appointed sole legal carer to Keegan, who died on 5 September last year, and has four other children, the jury was told. | |
| The court was told that on finding the toddler "unwell" in her cot, she drove off to dump the child's old mattress near a skip before alerting emergency services. | |
| More on this story and other news from Birmingham and the Black Country | More on this story and other news from Birmingham and the Black Country |
| Born in March 2014 to a heroin-addict mother, Keegan was otherwise healthy was put with a foster carer by social services, the jury was told. | Born in March 2014 to a heroin-addict mother, Keegan was otherwise healthy was put with a foster carer by social services, the jury was told. |
| Keegan was described in court as a "happy baby" and had lived at Downer's family home in Beckbury Road, Weoley Castle. | Keegan was described in court as a "happy baby" and had lived at Downer's family home in Beckbury Road, Weoley Castle. |
| 'Systemic abuse' | |
| Downer had told the court most of the "day-to-day" care of Keegan was down to her son and three younger children and claimed her eldest son may be to blame for the fatal injuries. | Downer had told the court most of the "day-to-day" care of Keegan was down to her son and three younger children and claimed her eldest son may be to blame for the fatal injuries. |
| West Midlands Police said Downer appeared to provide a loving and stable home for Keegan but was "cunning and devious in her systemic abuse of the child". | |
| Det Insp Harry Harrison said: "We believe the abuse started when her relationship began to go wrong. This was an extremely disturbing and harrowing case to investigate. What Downer subjected Keegan to was barbaric, inhuman and evil. | |
| "The death of one so young is always tragic but it is horrifying to think of the amount of violence and suffering this young child must have endured in the last few months of her short life in the hands of someone she should have been able to trust." | |
| He added he was "astounded by the lack of emotion" shown by Downer throughout this investigation. | |
| "She has not shown a shred of remorse or sorrow," he said. | |
| Downer will be sentenced on Wednesday. |