Andrew Wragg - not guilty of murdering his son Jacob.

[Epiffany]

From Sky
Former SAS soldier Andrew Wragg has been found not guilty of murdering his terminally-ill son.

Andrew Wragg, 38, was charged with using a pillow to suffocate 10-year-old Jacob, who suffered with Hunter Syndrome.

The defendant admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

Judge Mrs Justice Anne Rafferty gave him a two-year suspended sentence at Lewes Crown Court.

Jurors had heard the boy's condition was worsening before the attack on July 24, last year.

The disease had left him profoundly deaf and unable to speak.

Wragg, of Wimbledon, south London, insisted it was a "mercy killing" and claimed to have "seen in Jacob's eyes" that he wanted to die.

His legal team said this was proof he had been suffering an abnormality of mind at the time.

But Mary Wragg, 42, the defendant's ex-wife, portrayed Wragg as an uncaring, absentee father and a bully.

Denying any knowledge of Wragg's plans, she said Jacob was not close to death, but had been "happy and jolly" on the day he died.

The judge stressed: "This was not a mercy killing but a deed done by a man suffering from diminished responsibility".
The youngster was found at the family home in Henty Close, Worthing, West Sussex, after Wragg called the emergency services.
Michael Sayers QC, who defended Wragg, had said: "Some portents of evil have sought to be raised around this man's head.
"We say that is not right. Whatever happened, happened out of compassion."
Symptoms of Hunter Syndrome include progressive physical and mental deterioration.

So it's ok to kill now, as long as you have a good reason??????????????????????????

A 2yr suspended sentence?? Is that all little Jacob's life was worth?

"Wragg, of Wimbledon, south London, insisted it was a "mercy killing" and claimed to have "seen in Jacob's eyes" that he wanted to die"

Must remember; that seeing a wish to die in somebody's eyes is in fact permission to commit murder..... Words fail me where's the justice in all of this????

And how can a child's eyes possibly express a wish to die, children don't even know what death is. This is outrageous. Jacob's poor mother now has to live with the death of her son and this appalling verdict too.

Jacobs' poor mother conveniently left the house with her other son the night it happened, and according to the judge was "complicit" in the events that took place...

How can you judge. This is between a man and his boy. There are no winners. I feel so sorry for all involved. We have no idea what went on here.

Good luck to this man. His life is damaged beyond repair. Rest in peace Jacob.

Queen MAb thats what struck me as odd
He told her he was going to kill Jacob so she left him alone with him.
I agree that it is impossible to judge them, I suspect there is more than meets the eye here otherwise a jury would have had no hesitation in finding him guilty.
It is a tragedy for all concerned, wonder if it does reduce the perceived value of the life of a terminally ill child?

I think it's very difficult to make any judgements about cases like this unless you were actually in the courtroom or have followed the trial very carefully from a variety of different (reliable) sources. (which I haven't btw)

Also, Wraggs statement about seeing a wish to die in Jacobs eyes was taken as evidence that Wragg was unstable at the time - not permission for him to murder Jacob.

I do think two years is ridiculous and can't personally imagine how he could do it HOWEVER, we have a disabled DS (not so badly tho and not terminally) and have found the constant struggle to get any help at all incredible to those who haven't been through it, 6 years on and we are still in a world of delayed Paed appointments, SS who can't help until Paeds do the letter, etc etc. If we hadn't persuaded a charity to fund private care, and got advice on melatonin from here, I wouldn't have had over 4 hours sleep a night since he was born. I couldn't imagine hurting my baby, but there were a LOT of times that I could have just walked away forewver (lack of sleep is a torture, remember).

Watching your child die- I can see personally how that would make you crack up, even if I couldn't imagine expressing it this way.

Eppifany - that's why I pointed it out. Everyone says poor woman, dreadful man cold-bloodedly murdered her son, when obviously the whole situation has been far more heartwrendingly complicated than that, for all the family.

Well, all I can say is that I have the greatest sympathy for all of this poor family.

I visited my Mother this weekend. She has dementia, and cannot speak, cannot recognise anyone, she can bearly eat, can only drink thickened liquids, she cannot walk, she has not concept of when or where she is. She hasn't recognied me for over three years.

She has the moest remarkable care, I cannot for the life of me see that it could be bettered. The staff treat her with warmth , respect and they protect what is left of her dignity.

However I am chilled when I remember that 4 years ago, in her more lucid moment, she told me that she wanted to die and did not wish to live like this. And neither would I.

I have no anaswers to this situation. I cannot decide if my mother's treatment has been this highest , and most wonderful, aspect of human behaviour, in the way that she has been tenderly kept alive, or if it is base cowardice that allows a vital woman to waste away hour by hour.

Very, very

I'm glad that's the verdict tbh

I'm relieved for him - such a sad story.