Monster Of A Woman Who Drowned Her 23 Months Old Twin Children Escapes A Murder Trial.

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7127475/Mother-killed-toddler-twins-NOT-face-murder-trial.html

[ladybirder]

She's been deemed mentally unfit AOG by a judge who knows the whole story.

[anneasquith]

Tragic for everyone involved .

[spathiphyllum]

If someone admits to manslaughter why would they face a murder trial AOG?

[spathiphyllum]

"'We, that is the prosecution team, have considered all the reports and all of the facts of this case very carefully. It is a case of great sensitivity, as My Lord will appreciate.

'We have taken instructions from those instructing me and the father of the deceased children, who has of course been consulted in respect of this case, and the result of those consultations, advice and instructions given to me are that those pleas are acceptable and the Crown does not ask for a trial in respect of the two counts of murder.'

Mr Justice Edis adjourned sentencing to July 26, when he will consider a disposal under the mental health act."


Is the OP a genuine question, or a point for discussion?

[andy-hughes]

It would appear that, rather than being a 'monster of a woman', she is a woman whose mental instability has caused her to commit a monstrous act - which is not the same thing at all.

[agchristie]

It's somewhat curious to me that mental health issues and raising the profile of same in the media and removing stigmas are quickly dismissed by some when it comes to a valid defence in criminal proceedings.

The husband and Prosecution Team in this case have agreed a course of action and invited the judge to accept the plea of manslaughter.

[Cloverjo]

I agree with Andy-Hughes. She committed a monstrous act under the influence of a terrible mental illness.

[Gromit]

// The senior judge accepted the prosecution's decision, saying the reasons would become 'obvious' at the next hearing. //

So perhaps we should wait for the reasons the Judge accepted the guidance before we pass judgement in ignorance.

[waterboatman]

I too agree with andy.

[agchristie]

There is a tendency in commentary to dismiss out of hand the prospect that someone has a serious mental impairment when it comes to shocking murder(s).

Whether it be a swung hammer, a drowning in a bath, etc the inference drawn is often that the nature of the crime must be that the perpetrator deserves the same fate.

This is to the exclusion of all reasoning which includes the question as to why they acted that way in the first place, information that is not readily available to the layperson.

Is it because there are too many defences in criminal trials that rely on a defence of diminshed responsibility? If so, that is a dangerous precedent.

All cases have their own specifics and the reality is that some people have an illness which causes them to commit serious crime.

[youngmafbog]

At present I can't see anything to complain about.

Of course if she then gets off without being locked up or a lenient sentence then there will be something to get cross about. But if she is that screwed in the head I suspect she will be sectioned for quite some time.

[anotheoldgit]

I wonder if there would have been as much sympathy shown, had the killer of these two poor innocent toddlers, had they had been drowned by the husband?

Far too many women are being cleared of murder on mental grounds, when in fact everyone has got to be mental to commit murder.

[Gromit]

// Far too many women are being cleared of murder on mental grounds //

Have you any data to support that argument.
How many is too many?
What would you say was an acceptable number?

[agchristie]

//I wonder if there would have been as much sympathy shown, had the killer of these two poor innocent toddlers, had they had been drowned by the husband? //

My thoughts are not gender dependent so my view would be the same.

If someone has a proven mental illness then so be it.

As to the number of women being cleared of murder I cannot say I have noticed an abundance of cases.

Anyway, where cases are tried, only the jurors are in a position to establish guilt based on the weight of evidence presented.

[dannyk13]

AOG // everyone has got to be mental to commit murder//
Not in law.