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Original poster

To think a jail sentence for this tragic case of neglect achieves nothing?

315 replies

QuadBod · 23/04/2021 20:32

The mum whose baby drowned in the bath while she was distracted on her phone: BBC News - Northamptonshire mum jailed for killing baby son left alone in bath
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-56860846

Completely tragic, but what does the jail sentence achieve? Publicity perhaps, and maybe that will help to save other lives, but otherwise I don't get it.

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 23/04/2021 20:34

Does jail time achieve anything at any other time? A random spree killer is unlikely to do it again, should we let them off? An estranged father kills his children to hurt his ex, should we let them off? A drink driver accidentally mows someone down, them too?

Hellocatshome · 23/04/2021 20:34

I agree it seems odd when I'm pretty sure there have been similar cases that haven't resulted in jail time.

NiceGerbil · 23/04/2021 20:35

I agree.

Unless there was ongoing neglect then this is a worrying precedent.

Parents both male and female take their eye off the ball sometimes.

Poster on here the other day had kid fall into pond at parents. What if worst had happened?

Tragic accident not criminal.

catsjammies · 23/04/2021 20:36

Well you could say the same for many manslaughter cases. Accidentally kill someone while you're driving? Surely taking away their license would be enough? 🤨

She killed her child. She absolutely should be sent to jail.

NiceGerbil · 23/04/2021 20:36

Comparing a mum who left a bathroom for 4 mins to a man who murders his children is out of line.

Can you really not see the difference.

Rno3gfr · 23/04/2021 20:39

I don’t know. I really do feel for her as she has to live with it. But what a stupid, neglectful thing to do. If the baby was a year old and she left it splashing in the bath then I’d understand a bit more, but 5 months old?? What was she thinking? It sounds like a tragic laps in good judgement but I still agree with the sentence as a warning to others.

catsjammies · 23/04/2021 20:40

@NiceGerbil

I agree.

Unless there was ongoing neglect then this is a worrying precedent.

Parents both male and female take their eye off the ball sometimes.

Poster on here the other day had kid fall into pond at parents. What if worst had happened?

Tragic accident not criminal.

She left her child to go and mess about on her phone in another room, and lied about that fact to police. Yes many other parents do the same but they get very lucky if their child doesn't drown. Kids and water, particularly tiny children, don't mix. FFS even now my two are four and two I don't leave them in the bath for more than a minute. Kids can drown incredibly fast, and secondary drowning is a terrifying thing.
CarmelBeach · 23/04/2021 20:41

@HunterHearstHelmsley

Does jail time achieve anything at any other time? A random spree killer is unlikely to do it again, should we let them off? An estranged father kills his children to hurt his ex, should we let them off? A drink driver accidentally mows someone down, them too?
You can't compare a spree killer to this, that's batshit.even for MN!
Fieldoftheclothofgold · 23/04/2021 20:41

She committed a crime. A person died. This is what that means. We’re legally not allowed to drown toddlers in baths of water.

drpet49 · 23/04/2021 20:42

**Well you could say the same for many manslaughter cases. Accidentally kill someone while you're driving? Surely taking away their license would be enough? 🤨

She killed her child. She absolutely should be sent to jail.**

^I agree. She also lied to the police to cover up what she did. Deserves jail.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 23/04/2021 20:42

I think she deserves to go to jail. As does anyone whos convicted of manslaughter. She was utterly neglegent.

ChekhovsWorkshoppedShooter · 23/04/2021 20:42

I generally work from the question “will I sleep more safely in my bed/walk more confidently down the street knowing this person has been locked up?” If the answer isn’t yes, then I think there should be a better way to punish.

Fieldoftheclothofgold · 23/04/2021 20:42

Not a toddler even - a baby.

AngstyMom · 23/04/2021 20:42

@HunterHearstHelmsley

Does jail time achieve anything at any other time? A random spree killer is unlikely to do it again, should we let them off? An estranged father kills his children to hurt his ex, should we let them off? A drink driver accidentally mows someone down, them too?
I'd argue that a random spree killer is actually probably quite likely to do it again...

I agree OP. Prison time is either for retribution or rehabilitation. I prefer the latter, but even if you're the baying for blood type, I think she's likely suffered enough. IMO, the cost to the taxpayer of keeping her in prison is unjustified- it serves no purpose to society.

Fieldoftheclothofgold · 23/04/2021 20:43

I generally work from the question “will I sleep more safely in my bed/walk more confidently down the street knowing this person has been locked up?

But you (and nobody like you) was the victim. She killed a baby with her negligence.

lynsey91 · 23/04/2021 20:43

I think she does deserve prison. Putting looking at her phone above her child's life is disgusting.

A young child should never be left alone in the bath

Fieldoftheclothofgold · 23/04/2021 20:44

And let’s not forget the consequences if this didn’t mean jail. It would mean it was okay.

Nightbear · 23/04/2021 20:45

What is the point of a jail sentence? Whether you think this one is appropriate probably depends on what you feel custodial sentences are actually intended to do.

In this case I think that the very young age of the baby, the length of time they were left and the lying to the police have contributed to the sentence.

The judge said ’I am satisfied that you remain in denial of your responsibility for your son's death and your lies were in part a reflection of the fact that you have not yet accepted that you are responsible for the death of your baby.’

FusionChefGeoff · 23/04/2021 20:46

The article I read also mentioned that she had some kind of additional / psychological needs / history (can't remember specifics) which I think makes it even worse that she's been locked up.

It was a horrific mistake possibly due to complete ignorance / low intellect and I really don't think it can be coamps red to the other examples of manslaughter.

ChekhovsWorkshoppedShooter · 23/04/2021 20:46

Well no I wouldn’t sleep well in my bed if I thought that someone was walking free who was likely to abuse children even though I am not myself a child.

Athinginitself · 23/04/2021 20:46

I think unless there was other evidence of neglect a prison sentence does feel quite pointless, she made a stupid mistake which shes got to live with for the rest of her life which feels like punishment enough.

MorrisZapp · 23/04/2021 20:47

The sentencing judge said she had shown little remorse, lied about what happened, and even now couldn't see her own actions at fault.

AngstyMom · 23/04/2021 20:48

@Fieldoftheclothofgold

And let’s not forget the consequences if this didn’t mean jail. It would mean it was okay.
It clearly wouldn't. A non-custodial sentence is still a sentence. And no one is going to hear this story and think that copying her parenting is a jolly good idea, regardless of any fall-out.
FusionChefGeoff · 23/04/2021 20:48

Here it is:

"Plainly this is a young woman with significant problems identified in the psychologist's report," said Mr Nathan.

I do think it's plausible that she didn't realise the baby seat wasn't safe and then panicked and lied as she, ironically, didn't want to get into trouble over what was a terrible mistake.

Brefugee · 23/04/2021 20:48

Prison is about punishment, removing danger and setting an example to others.

Seems ok to me.