The April Jones trial has started

[NorthernLurker]

The trial of Mark Bridger for the abduction and murder of April Jones plus some other charges has started today. From what I've read of the initial statements given by the prosecution, it's clearly going to be a very distressing case.
My thoughts are with all in court including the jury but most especially with April's parents who are in court. I don't know how they can bear it.

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

I'm curious, those blaming the parents because April was out aged 5, would it still be her parents fault had she been 6? Or 7, 8, 10, 15? At what magic number would they be absolved of blame and who gets to decide that number?
Just curious

[lurcherlover]

Would those blaming the parents also think that if I chose to walk alone late at night in a short skirt and got raped, that would be partly my fault? How far do you go with the victim blaming?

If I don't put the calpol out of reach and my toddler poisons himself, it's an accident but it's my fault. If I leave him unsupervised downstairs when I know he can open the front door and he ends up on the main road, it's negligence on my part. If a pervert abducts and murders my child - that is NOT my fault. FGS, try walking in their shoes for a moment.

[MatersMate]

"James Bulger, his Mum turned her back for a second in a busy shopping Mall, her fault was it?" YES blame should be portioned.... He was TWO yrs old, why was he not on a safety harness hooked to her wrist????

Another one receiving PMs from Angers
Thanks for the special attention love, but can you stick to the thread in future?

[pumpkinsweetie]

The only one to blame is Mark Bridger, anyone that can't see that needs to read the individual story and realise they lived in a tiny village fgs.
This thread is about April, not past cases of other children!
Stop insulting James Bulgers parents to whoever is, fgs have some empathy. Are you perfect has your child never slipped your hand?

This isn't about parenting, stick to the subject at hand.

[NorthernLurker]

What's with the PM nonsense? Why would she do that?

Hobnobs I agree - there's some sort of mysterious age/time of day equation that some are privy to

[MatersMate]

I was making a point that you can't keep your child 100% 'safe' from someone intent on doing them harm their whole lives, and used JB and others as examples, angers however, has never let her children out of her sight, so never has to worry

[donnie]

Angers: let me explain something to you. Blame is not 'portioned'. Blame is 'apportioned'. There is no such verb as 'portion'. You are not only a weird stalking troll, PMing all and sundry, but you are also dim. I cannot understand why MN is not barring you, given that you are stalkingPMing people with vile comments.

[phantomnamechanger]

and now we have yet another very sad case in the media - the murder of a 17 yo girl when she went out to meet friends - anyone care to say she should not have gone out? that it's the parents fault?

you can never guarantee 100% against all eventualities.

the attitude of some people on here disgusts me, it really does. This sort of thing happens to families who have absolute trust in the person doing the offending (eg female nursery worker case, parish priest). These people worm their way into communities and are expert con artists.

[Pagwatch]

Was that what you put in your PMs?

The use of PC brigade really is a crock of shit.

[pumpkinsweetie]

How many times, they lived in a remote village. Your story does not compare.

[Angers]

Lottieandmia "The point is, she was not 'on the streets' - the area outside her house is like an extended garden. Secondly, if he had not taken April he would have taken another child. We know that the first child he approached was 10 - would you say a 10 year old shouldn't play outside??"
Without even realizing it you've made a similar point, the 10yr old said no, a 10yr old is more equipped to make a safety decision than a 5yr old.
Asked above what age is safe? 5,6,7 in my opinion, NO. 8 / 9 / 10 onwards, only the parents will be able to judge if they are mentally equipped.

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

"pc brigade" get out phrase for the hard of thinking.

[JulieMumsnet]

Hi,

We understand that this is a very emotive topic and we're not here to censor your debate but we'd like to remind you of our talk guidelines and ask you to respect the fact that there is a grieving family involved.

We will remove any posts which we deem are beyond the pail once we are notified of them, and we will remove any posts which contain quotes of the deleted post.

We hope you understand.

MNHQ.

[rosellis]

blockchildporn.org/ - please share and support this campaign which I've started in the wake of the Mark Bridger murder of April Jones