Can any one explain how parents can subject their own child to torture?

[Elasticwoman]

I'm sure every one has heard the shocking news about the couple who have just been sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison for subjecting their 4 year old to gruesome abuse which would have killed her had the parents not been found out.

Every now and again these terrible cases come up. Usually the culprits are not the natural parents eg in the Climbier case.

I am sure it is very rare, but I can't understand why any one would want to inflict wanton cruelty on a defenceless child. I can understand the impulse to smack if provoked, but deliberately to scald her hands??They could have left the child in foster care if they didn't want to look after her.

How can people have children and not love them? Am I being naive?

I suppose I mean emotional intelligence - some people are more resourceful than others in seeing that their emotional/psychological shortcomings are addressed.

Sorry to be dim Muminfife, but where do they abduct home ed teenagers and where would you rather live, American or Germany?

What is the school leaving age in Germany. Surely at 17 it doesnt matter if a child really hates school. They should be able to do something else

They have their regulations in Germany, don't they? I believe it's also illegal to mow your own lawn on a Sunday.

Whatever the York bye-laws, I think you would still be prosecuted if you murdered a Scot there, by any method.