Mom of kids who died in blaze could be deported

Mom of kids who died in blaze could be deported

By Jennifer Bain and Chris Perez

October 6, 2016 | 5:20pm

The Bronx mom whose two babies perished in a home blaze where there were no working smoke detectors turned up her nose at a no-jail plea deal Thursday — because she could be deported back to West Africa if she accepts, her lawyer said.Haya Konte, 27, was flanked by nearly a dozen supporters, some with their children, as she made a brief appearance in criminal court with a newborn baby.

She is facing charges of criminally negligent homicide and acting in a manner injurious to a child after investigators found that she left her kids Jainabu Jabbie, 2, and her sister, Adama, 18 months, home alone with incense burning as she did her laundry April 13. Konte, a French-born immigrant who grew up in Gambia, was pregnant at the time.

After the blaze, a city Housing worker admitted to cops that he had inspected the smoke detectors in the Butler Houses apartment and reported them working, even though they were broken.

Konte’s case was adjourned until Nov. 14 because of plea talks in which prosecutors are offering a single felony charge and probation.

But her lawyer, Karen Smolar, with the Bronx Defenders, is trying to negotiate a better deal because she could be shipped back home to Gambia if she takes it.

“It looks like we’re not ready to resolve this case,” Judge William Mogulescu said in court.

Smolar declined to comment when asked about NYCHA handyman Rene Rivera’s role in the incident.

http://nypost.com/2016/10/06/mom-of-...d-be-deported/