Father kills 10 week daughter and gets 4 1/2 years -- is it enough?

[AtheneNoctua]

Personally, I don't think so. He shook her because he couldn't handle the crying -- which is in fact normal 10 week baby behaviour.

Somehow, I don't think 4 years is enough. I appreciate manslaughter is not the same as premeditated murder, but it is still not enough.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7390271.stm

That's awful Joash. I can't believe (or really I can believe but I am so sad to admit it) that the physical safety of a young baby is seen as such a low priority given the evidence. Time and time again after a baby dies evidence comes to light about previous injuries. Why the hell was nothing done then??? And why does a parent HAVE TO ASK for help, if their baby is presented with suspicious injuries? Surely, the health visitor/GP/hospital has a duty to protect the child first. I wonder if it's still seen as a negative stigma, to need help as a new parent? A new baby needs protecting, just as new parents need support and education when it comes to how to cope with the new addition. I could cry (and often do) when I hear these stories as I feel so many of these deaths are totally preventable and unnecessary.

And even if a parent doesn't ask for help, I still think they should receive it in some form or other, just as a normal every day thing rather than a special case. Like post-partum care, a daily/twice weekly/whatever visit, so parents are not totally alone with their baby. It doesn't have to be seen as interfering, more that it's going back to the "it takes a village to raise a child" ethos, where families are supported by a network of supportive and knowledgeable and caring people. I'm sure even the most confident mum or dad would welcome a cuppa and a hug on a regular basis, and the fact that some one else is there to care about them and listen to them and teach them. Being a new parent is a lonely, exhausting, crazy, intense, incredible time and I find it hard to accept any parent should have to deal with it alone, even if they feel they can cope it only takes one more sleepless night and colicky baby to potentially put them in the same place as the family above.

Exactly FioFio.

the problem with home start is that it relies purely on volunteers and they are not allowed to do home visits until they are fully trained and CRB'd

Fair point about not assuming someone will have to live with the burden of guilt, Joash - I was just thinking about the sentence and how it could be quite harsh if someone did feel desperately remorseful.

Your grandson's case is shocking. Thank God you intervened - but IIRC you had to fight a long battle, didn't you?

Yep - it went on for almost two years. Neither of his parets were charged with anything.

and neither of them has an ounce of guilt

Don't know what to say, Joash. That is shocking. Thank heavens you fought for your grandson.

Well thank you but TBH - in many ways it's all done with now. At least he is alive and well (I honestly think that he wouldn't be alive should the court have decided to send him back to his parents). Whilst we are continuously dealing with the aftermath such as his hearing problems, or questions like "Why don't I live with mummy? etc"; there is probably much worse to come once he can fully understand all the details and mixing that with any future teenage angst; at least he is safe and they should never be allowed to have any more children (in theory).

Its tragic, and I suspect that the sentence is about right. Its hard coping with a baby crying both day and night, and prehaps there were grounds for a leintent sentence because of diminished responsiblity. Its for a judge to decide. Sometimes men suffer with postnatal depression as well.

I don't see how you can compare it with a childminder shaking a baby. A child minder does not have to look after a baby. Ultimately a childminder can point blank reufse to look after a baby and insist that a working parent collects a child.

A childminder who kills a baby by shaking does not deserve to live.