Kandyce Downer found guilty of murdering 18-month-old toddler

Woman from Birmingham was the legal guardian of the child

Kandyce Downer was appointed as Keegan's guardian around nine months before her death (West Midlands Police)

A woman has been found guilty of battering to death an 18-month-old baby she had been appointed to take care of.

Kandyce Downer, a 34-year-old foster mother, was the legal guardian of toddler Keegan Downer who collapsed on 5 September last year at her home in Birmingham.

The post mortem found that Keegan had died from a combination of septicaemia, infection, blunt chest trauma and old head injuries. Downer, from Birmingham, who had been appointed Keegan's guardian in January 2015, denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. She was found guilty by the jury at Birmingham Crown Court on both counts.

Medical evidence given in court stated Keegan had sustained 200 injuries on her body, including seven broken ribs, brain and spinal injuries and bruises on her face and body. There were 153 scars found on her, including on her face and neck.

The court was told the toddler had suffered from an untreated spiral leg fracture which had caused a deformity, leaving one leg shorter than the other, and a head injury which would have hindered her ability to fight infection.

This article will be updated