Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

This jury are on glue [Content warning added by MNHQ: child abuse]

120 replies

whatsthataboutthen · 06/08/2021 23:21

How, just how, can this jury decide that this couple didn't murder the child, but "only" guilty of manslaughter?

The mother had threatened to kill her in a text a few days previously, and the child was found with multiple broken ribs and sternum and other fractures from previous abuse, but the jury decided her death wasn't murder? What the actual fuck? Whoever the defence lawyer was really stitched up the jury, or they were on glue...how can any sane person say this wasn't premeditated?

news.sky.com/story/amp/kaylee-jade-priest-mother-and-ex-boyfriend-jailed-for-killing-girl-three-after-her-cries-interrupted-them-having-sex-12374662

OP posts:
ShitPoetryClub · 07/08/2021 00:52

Utterly heartbreaking. I find the fact that she had previously been to hospital with broken bones particularly chilling. What an awful life the poor little mite had.

NiceGerbil · 07/08/2021 00:55

The max term for murder is life.
That's same as murder.

They blamed each other and murder means have to definitely meant to kill.

Geamhradh · 07/08/2021 01:14

@whatsthataboutthen

How, just how, can this jury decide that this couple didn't murder the child, but "only" guilty of manslaughter?

The mother had threatened to kill her in a text a few days previously, and the child was found with multiple broken ribs and sternum and other fractures from previous abuse, but the jury decided her death wasn't murder? What the actual fuck? Whoever the defence lawyer was really stitched up the jury, or they were on glue...how can any sane person say this wasn't premeditated?

news.sky.com/story/amp/kaylee-jade-priest-mother-and-ex-boyfriend-jailed-for-killing-girl-three-after-her-cries-interrupted-them-having-sex-12374662

Do we really need yet another thread about this case today?
MistyGreenAndBlue · 07/08/2021 01:24

The jury didn't decide anything other than guilty or not guilty. The prosecutors decide the charges not the jury.
They came back with guilty. Hardly "on glue"

WelshWhisky · 07/08/2021 01:27

The sentence is far too lenient but if the jury had gone for a murder charge only one of them could have been convicted. UK law stinks!

uktrippin · 07/08/2021 01:30

"The sentence is far too lenient but if the jury had gone for a murder charge only one of them could have been convicted. UK law stinks!"

Hmm the jury don't "go for" any charge. You might want to brush up on the law and the courts before claiming it "stinks"

WelshWhisky · 07/08/2021 01:40

the jury don't "go for" any charge. You might want to brush up on the law and the courts before claiming it "stinks"

Who do you think finds the defendant guilty or not guilty of murder or guilty or not guilty of manslaughter? 🤔

What is your understanding of “The Jury”?

ineedaholidaynow · 07/08/2021 01:47

If the charge was manslaughter that is the only charge the jury can consider

uktrippin · 07/08/2021 01:50

@WelshWhisky they don't get to choose what the defendants are charged with 😂

What is your understanding of a jury?

BadLad · 07/08/2021 03:10

@NiceGerbil

The max term for murder is life. That's same as murder.

They blamed each other and murder means have to definitely meant to kill.

In England intention to cause GBH is enough for murder. Doesn't have to be intention to kill.
OaxacaChihuahua · 07/08/2021 06:06

I can only imagine how hard this was for those jurors - having to sit through details of this terrible abuse and torture of a child. Having to hear details of the ways in which she was hurt and frightened for her whole short life.

They have heard all of the evidence and the directions of the judge. You must know there is simply no possibility that you’re in a better position to make a judgment on this case than them.

They have undertaken an important act of public service, and I hope they’re receiving support to come to terms with what must have been a horrific experience.

clickychicky · 07/08/2021 06:13

Oh that's such a heartbreaking case. I don't think it's fair to judge the jury. Jury service is hard and the judge gives directions sometimes like you have to be clear in your mind who did it etc.

trappistkepler · 07/08/2021 06:21

Just remember the Casey Anthony trial; nobody can explain the jury decision except that one jury member dominated. Very flawed system. I watched the entire trial for 6 weeks and saw what the jury saw. Quite incredible. It only takes one dominant prick.

OaxacaChihuahua · 07/08/2021 06:24

Were the defendants actually charged with murder, or with manslaughter only?

If they weren’t charged with murder, the jury has no power to find them guilty of murder.

If they were charged with murder and found not guilty, there will be reasons why. The threshold test for criminal conviction is very high -
‘Beyond reasonable doubt’. We don’t have access to the evidence considered by the jury. We can’t determine the ‘correct’ outcome on the basis of a few lines in a newspaper article.

sofiegiraffe · 07/08/2021 06:25

The jury don't decide the sentence or charge 🙄

I also can't read anymore shit like this, especially after reading about that poor baby who was abandoned by her mother who went partying for 6 days. My heart is still in pieces from that story. I hate this world sometimes. Off to hug my baby 😥

Neverrains · 07/08/2021 06:34

Firstly, the jury don’t get to decide what they’re charged with.
Secondly, the jury are party to day and days worth of evidence. You’ve read an article on the Daily Mail.
Thirdly, it’s quite clear in this case that they don’t know who actually did it. With a murder charge either one or both would have walked free.

Lockheart · 07/08/2021 06:42

The level of ignorance about how the UK justice system works is astonishing.

I love how many posters on MN think they know better than a jury having read one daily mail article on the subject.

Happymum12345 · 07/08/2021 07:19

My heart goes out to anyone serving on a jury where they have to listen and look at evidence of child neglect & abuse. Op, you really have no idea.

chaosrabbitland · 07/08/2021 07:29

murder has to be shown to be actually preplanned , in this case yes a suggestion was made , but that was all it was , it cant be proved that a solid plan was put into place to do it , also it has to be proved which one of them planned it and the evidence obviously wasnt there to prove to the jury which one of them might have planned it . its very difficult as the jury is instructed by the judge only to convict if theres no reasonable doubt , this is impressed quite firmly

so they went with manslaughter , so that way they could get them both convicted , iv done jury service many years ago , there is hours of evidence and testamony to listen to , its not easy , it is yet another tragic case , but sadly its never as easy as just banging them up never to see the light of day again , at least they got some prison time , caylee anothonys mother walked away scot free despite the ton of evidence against her , because they went for a murder charge that carried a possible death sentance . but whilst the evidence was there she killed her it just could not be proved she planned to do it , so they aquitted her , i was so shocked and it was heartbreaking

SunshineCake · 07/08/2021 07:58

@Datingandnoideahowto

It’s because they don’t know which one of them did it. They don’t have evidence either way of who did it and neither have admitted it.
Should both be murder then
Terhou · 07/08/2021 08:09

@WelshWhisky

The sentence is far too lenient but if the jury had gone for a murder charge only one of them could have been convicted. UK law stinks!
Well, no. In English law a jury has to be sure beyond reasonable doubt before finding someone guilty, and there is nothing that stinks about that principle. If both are accusing each other of murder, there may well be reasonable doubt for both so both could be acquitted.
Datingandnoideahowto · 07/08/2021 08:10

They were charged with manslaughter. Take that up with the CPS. It’s not the jury’s fault.

Terhou · 07/08/2021 08:13

murder has to be shown to be actually preplanned , in this case yes a suggestion was made , but that was all it was , it cant be proved that a solid plan was put into place to do it

That isn't actually correct. What is required for murder is an intention to kill or cause serious harm, but that intention can be formed on a spur of the moment basis. The issue here is that there is reasonable doubt in both cases.

DarkDarkNight · 07/08/2021 08:14

According to this article there was a friend of the boyfriend at the flat the night the little girl was attacked. It’s the first I’ve heard of this. Was he charged? Did he give evidence?

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/jurors-wept-68-injuries-little-21147522

The text messages and the CCTV footage was chilling.