How can parents do this?

Sentencing will be tomorrow.
She's been convicted of murder and he's been convicted of manslaughter.

The most horrifying case of neglect, abuse and cruelty I've ever read. That poor innocent child, the very age of my dear grandson. How can this happen in our society? I will never understand the depths of depravity that human beings are capable of. Absolutely evil.

I saw this right at the beginning of the court case and cried when I read that he's said his Gran loved him and he wanted to go there. Perhaps the police actually need an army of us Grans to carry out these so called 'welfare visits'. Not many of us would have missed those bruises nor have been fooled by a smooth talking Dad. I understand that the stepmother has already encountered problems in prison. Long may they continue. I feel for his family who tried to get some idiot to pay attention.

Him as well, despicable creature.

I've heard some sickening things, many stick in the mind, but this case must be one of the worst.
My stomach was churning when I watched the news.

I hope she is never released and doesn't get put in solitary "for her own safety".

According to reports he told his teacher his dad would kill him. She followed it up and was told by Social Services that he had been visited and was fine.

Sadly this little boy was lost in the lockdown and was unable to be in school where he may have been able to say to teachers,dinner ladies or other children what his life was like. There have probably been hundreds of children who have been abused through lockdown because they were invisible.
It would be easy to blame social services for having made a mistake with closing the case. But parents are devious and manipulative. Apparently Arthur was happy on that day when they visited. He was allowed to play with his toys in the garden and the father said he had been fighting with another child which caused the bruises. They presented a completely different picture to the reality of his sad life.
But what about the others who witnessed the treatment of the child or heard his screaming ? Neighbours,other relatives ? There should be a community response to safeguarding children. We can all be their voice to try and protect them. Too many people rely solely on professional services rather than get involved themselves.

I've just read that she took a photo of little Arthur as he lay dying. It broke my heart to hear that the jury asked to be allowed to hold a minutes silence for him at the end of the trial and were allowed to do so. They have been excused jury service for life. Rest in peace Arthur.

May little Arthur rest in peace. So incredibly sad but at least he will never be hurt again.

Well the evil pair have been found guilty of that little boy’s torture and murder. She murdered him and he allowed it.

I’ve just read some of it but had to skim through as, frankly, it’s just too distressing.

Yet again, Social Services and the the police have failed to protect a child. I feel grieved for his grandmother and uncle who tried desperately to get someone to listen. They must be tortured by what they’ve heard.

Heads should roll. There must be more accountability for such dereliction of duty. To read of the attempts by his family to help him is truly heartbreaking. May that little boy RIP and hopefully she’ll be kept on suicide watch because death is too good for her.

Did anyone say it wasn’t tickingbird? I remain shocked at what you said. It was unbelievably nasty.

I just ignored it. It makes no sense so it wasnt worth engaging with. I could get it deleted but I prefer to leave those statements for people to see.

That statement is appalling.

Child abuse is appalling.

Back in the 1970s a patient at the GP practice I worked for requested her third termination. She admitted she used no contraception otherwise.
The hospital doctors said they'd agree to do it, but only if she also agreed to be sterilised at the same time.
I don't know what the outcome was.

Message deleted as it quotes a deleted post.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

A terrible crime but sterilisation would be a medieval punishment.

No it shouldn't. Its abhorrent.

There are terrible things being done to people in our prisons and mental health facilities. Forced sterilisation is the least of it. If proved beyond doubt that someone has abused/neglected a child to the point of death or serious injury then forced sterilisation is an option and should be considered.

I couldn’t countenance forced sterilisation, there are far too many associations with the third reich. I realise some would argue it compares with removing at birth, any future children these people may have.

I know we shouldn’t get over emotional about these things but we are far too tolerant and a basic human right is liberty and we take that away easily enough so I really cannot understand why forced sterilisation is so dreadful.

They have surely forfeited the right to have children.
When they are released I hope a very close eye is kept on the pair of them.

I hope they have both been sterilised but I doubt it.

There’s no chance of that Callistemon. That would be an outrageous abuse of their human rights!!

Just in case of any doubt I am being very sarcastic.

In addition I, too, am very familiar with young Tony’s case - bless him. Every time I see this boy I see his monster of a father as he looks just like him. They will soon be released but that boy lives the rest of his life without legs because of what they did to him when he was a tiny baby.

I know we shouldn’t get over emotional about these things but we are far too tolerant and a basic human right is liberty and we take that away easily enough so I really cannot understand why forced sterilisation is so dreadful.

SueDonim

More agonisingly awful evidence from the trial today, that poor wee Arthur knew his father was going to try to kill him one day.

I’ve never supported capital punishment but by god, this case is testing my resolve.

Poor, poor little lad.

Yes, mine too, as are the other cases, and the thought that some of these evil people will be out in a few years and able to have more children is just horrifying.

My daughter worked in child protection many years ago when she was very young. To get a child in danger taken out of a family was incredibly difficult, particularly if that child was of Aboriginal descent because of past history and the stolen generation. There were many families where this would have been the best for the child but it just didn’t happen because of bureaucracy and politics. Horrible situation.

The sentences for abusing and even killing children are just not tough enough.

Proposals for tougher sentences, called Tony's Law, met with the approval of Dominic Raab, Justice Secretary, after campaigning by the adoptive parents of Tony Hudgell and MP Tom Tugendhat.
Tony was dreadfully abused as a tiny baby by his birth parents, left in agony and had to have both legs amputated as a result.
He now has wonderful adoptive parents.
Tony raised over £1million last year for the hospital which treated him by walking, after being inspired by Captain Tom.

The callous, evil birth parents were each sentenced to ten years and will be out of prison next year after serving five years.
I hope they have both been sterilised but I doubt it.