to think this should have been murder? Warning: potential triggers. Distressing content. [title edited by MNHQ]

[wannaBe]

\link{http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-28483061\warning, distressing content}
So it's culpable homicide because she didn't mean to kill him? ok then. I hope there is a special place in hell for people like her.

She would have been convicted of CH by reason of diminished responsibility if that was the case.

Meloria. She had twins but only hit the little boy. If she had PND wouldn't she have abused both children.

I think it does a disservice to women who suffer/ed from PND and who would rather harm themselves then their children. PND (unless their is added severe psychosis, which is rare) doesn't make a loving mother punch their child to death.

And would be held in a mental health facility, not prison.

meloria she didn't suddenly 'snap' tho?

Meloria, please stop. People better placed than us have decided what her fate will be. Stop trying to justify the death of a child.

That's how murder works, to me murder means a worse killing like it seems to to you but legally that's how it is. I don't agree with the courts that pre-meditated means worse. But that's the law.

A huge chunk of the prison population have MH problems - are they all held in a mental health facility?

The threshold for diminished responsibility and insanity in terms of criminal responsibility are very high and having a MH difficulty does not necessarily equate to reduced culpability.

She would also have put PND forward as a defence. It wasn't mentioned as far as I can see.

It was reported in one of the news reports that at the time of Mikaeel's death, she was suffering from mild to moderate depressive disorder. But she had been found fit to stand trial.

Riggi died of natural causes afaicr

eating disorder related

I disagree with the concept of an 'evil'. I'd rather the person themselves was held fully responsible for their actions instead of some mystical force at work. Just like a dont agree that any higher power is to be thanked when good things happen to people.

So you have answered your own question then? She may have had a slight mh condition which did not diminish her responsibility?!

Theresa Riggi was held at Cornton Vale Prison, but after a string of alleged attacks from other inmates in 2011 she was moved to Rampton Secure Hospital in Nottinghamshire.

Riggi committed suicide in Rampton hospital.

Hmm, she'll not be popular inside will she.

Well said DiaDuit

I thought a similar thing last week when people were saying they were 'blessed' not to be on the plane that was shot down - presumably God didn't give two hoots about those that actually got the plane? Or was the person that shot them down 'blessed' for accurately hitting his target? Once you get into the idea of anything being favoured by a deity or having some absolute moral fault then things just become ridiculous.

i think the coroner said natural causes

it's very easy to say 'it should have been murder' without being party to al the facts though

the CPS would go with the charge they feel would get a conviction - obviously there was not the EVIDENCE to support a murder charge - would you rather she walked away ?

so as I understand it, she left him in the bedroom alone for 2/3 days before he died of the injuries she inflicted upon him, and that doesn't prove she intended to kill him? What did she think would happen to him?

I thought Riggi died of Natural causes?

They do often under charge, the CPS but its a basic fact that intention marks one of the diffs btwn murder and manslaughter

The law really is an ass when it comes to manslaughter, or CH and murder. Yes you obviously need intent and sometimes premeditation for murder, but there should be some recognition that beating a small child in a prolonged and violent attack will probably result in death?

The Riggi death was not suspicious - that means it could be a murder where the culprit is known, a suicide or natural causes.

Gretchen, I'm googling but only finding reports (albeit news reports on suicide) Do you have a link?

She's been on remand in Corntonvale so she'll know what it's like in there.

If she's lucky she'll be held in the state hospital IMO. If not, she'll be dead within a year