Victoria Climbié

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Adjo Victoria Climbié (November 2, 1991 - February 25, 2000), better known as Victoria Climbié, was a child murder victim whose death led to major changes in child protection policies in the UK.

Climbié was born in Abobo near Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and at age seven was sent by her parents to Europe with her great-aunt Marie Thérèse Kouao for a chance for an education.

They travelled first to France, and then to England. In London, Kouao met bus-driver Carl Manning, and she and Victoria moved into his flat in Tottenham in July 1999. Here, Victoria was abused by both Kouao and Manning. She was admitted to Accident and Emergency on February 24, 2000, unconscious and suffering from hypothermia; she died the next day. The Home Office pathologist noted 128 separate injuries and scars on her body.

Marie Thérèse Kouao and Carl Manning were charged with child cruelty and murder. During police interviews, both claimed that Victoria was possessed. Their trial ran from November 2000 to January 12, 2001. Both were found guilty, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Victoria's murder led to a public inquiry, chaired by Lord Laming, which investigated the role of social services, the National Health Service, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and the police in her death. The Laming report found that on at least 12 occasions care workers could have saved her life. The highly critical report has led to further reforms of the way in which child protection measures are implemented in the UK, including the creation of a Universal Child Database to keep track of every child in Britain in order to better co-ordinate the notes of doctors and social workers.