Harold Shipman

[coggles]

has been found hanging in his cell - easy way out or not?

[sft42]

Ha......Just listening on the 10 o'clock news and they managed to get a quote from one of the relatives of one of his victims...Her exact words were "easy way out".....I don't think that is true....if anyone finds themelves at the point where they are thinking of taking their own life then they can hardly be accused of being in a good frame of mind to make a rational judgement as to what they are doing.

As a footnote it's no bad thing as it will save the ratepayer a few bob eh?

[paul69]

from memory, he was described by a newspaper (the Times, i think) as "Britains's Worst Serial KIller" .. Surely the headline should have said "Britain's Best Serial Killer" ?

[andy hughes]

I would agree that suicide is never an 'easy' way out. It's an emotive issue, given the heartbreak and suffering that Shipman caused, but the law has acted, and justice has been seen to be done. Yes, I know all about the argument that he is alive / costing money / no confession and all that, but we have to remain detached where possible and remember that our laws make us civilised, and in the case, justice was done, and seen to be done. It's another tragedy to compiund all the tragedy that has gone before - the only people who can feel any sense of satisfaction are those who are untouched by it, apart from via their papers and TV's. This solves nothing - it is a tragedy in the true sense, for everyone.

[Greedyfly]

All I can say is, he finally got away with it!

[coggles]

Thanks everyone for your comments. TW, it is a shame he didn't go through a stage of 'guilt and remorse' after he killed his first victim. I feel very sorry for the relatives of all the victims who will never know 'Why?'

[Greedyfly]

It is also possible that Shipmans conscience was'nt ever a part of his suicide and that he didn't want to spend all his life behind bars?!

[coggles]

Whether he had a sudden feeling of guilt or not, he should have been strung up in the first place.

[beenee]

Like many have said: he was an arrogant man and a control freak and this last move of his is proof of his inflated ego. I'm neither happy nor sad that he commited suicide.. It's just an interesting insight into human behaviour.

To answer the question: death is an easier way out for sure.

[bernardo]

Yes it is the easy way out. That's the main reason why I am against capital punishment - because a long term of imprisonment is more of a proper punishment than execution.

[BadBob]

The problem is bernardo is that prison is nothing about punishment and all about rehabilitation. I'm not saying people are not punished by being in prison but thats your general idea these days that these people are being rehabilitated to be released back into the community.

[paulbamford]

RE paul69s comment Harold Shipman- Britain's most spectacularly fabulous serial killer! epitaph and a half

[Greedyfly]

Like every abuser, murderer, child abuser, wife/husband beater etc... in this world. He should have been tortured until he pleaded for suicide - he deserved it. Im sorry if that is a little strong but I feel very strongly on things like this.

[coggles]

Very well said greedyfly.........

[abfandango]

(Caveat:I don't believe that because forces outwith our control that contribute to our behaviour mean that we lack responsibility). Harold Shipman probably killed over 200 people, in cold blood, without motive and by his own hand. Clearly something was wrong with this person. I don't mean, something was wrong BECAUSE he killed 200 people, I mean that it is so far removed from normal human behaviour that it must be indicative of some underlying disorder, perhaps as a result of mental illness and or some personal event in his life. I do not say he was guilt free (although maybe he was). But what I do know is that in our still-neanderthal society where there are cheers when someone like this kills himself instead of sober questions being asked, we can be sure that there will be more Harold Shipmans to follow. Harold Shipman may not have turned for help after murder 1 because he knew that society would condemn him instead of trying to treat his disorder. So it remained untreated. (p.s., if you're going to reply to this post, please actually write what you think, not what you feel social forces suggest you should think).