Is a child murderer vulnerable?

I have every sympathy with anyone who has been abused and cannot imagine how horrific the experience must be.

That's what I was trying to say glass, I know how hard it can be to have these things suggested by the media as it affects someone in my close family as well

glass yes sorry, I did correct my original post, and was only quoting an idea that was written in an article.From what I have read , many violent criminals have suffered violence and deprived childhoods. I was not saying that everyone who has been abused becomes an abuser, merely that there must be a reason for some people to behave in the way they do. I am not saying that everybody with mental illness is evil either. isn't there a term " criminally insane "? Which would describe people who inflict torture on others .

ana

glass, you are absolutely right. A lot of rubbish is peddled in the media about abusers having been abused themselves, leading a lot of people to believe that all those who've been abused must therefore be bound to follow the same path, which is of course not true at all!

aga I was abused as a child..................

Not something I have broadcast on here, a few of my close friends do know of my past, but its not something that I generally talk about.

Yes I would say that there must be reasons for a person to behave in such a way but not being abused in all cases............................ I consider myself to be a caring and supportive parent and Grandparent and protecting my family is what is uppermost in my being.

So please dont paint us all with the same brush. Until you have walked in an abused persons shoes please dont try to tarnish us as all being capable of abuse.

It is hard to understand I agree agapanthus, and tempting to think of such people as insane, but I'm not sure that is helpful either. For one thing, it does a great injustice to the vast majority of people with mental health problems who would never harm anyone (except perhaps themselves). For another thing, I think that by labelling the perpetrators insane we enable them to evade responsibility for their actions. I think the simple truth is that all humans are capable of great evil; the reasons why a few enact such evil while most don't is the million dollar question.

Sorry should not have said probably, but possibly. I am sure that many abused people turn out to be perfectly caring adults, but there must be some reason for a person to behave in such a despicable way. Yes we all have choices, but fortunately most of us do not even consider harming a child.It always seems strange that the courts have to decide if someone is sane or not when they have committed a crime of obscene violence. I cannot think how anyone who does that to a child can possibly be described as sane.

Crossed posts Notso

It is not true to say that Baby Peter would inevitably have become an abuser. Most abusers may have suffered abuse, but most people who suffer abuse do not go on to become abusers. Those who survive are often horrified at the thought that they will be judged in this way.

I agree that we need to rehabilitate offenders. I am sure this man should have been better protected in prison but I find it very difficult to find any sympathy in my heart.

It's true that a percentage of adults who abuse children were abused themselves in childhood.

It is also true that vast numbers of children who experience abuse, grow up to become loving, caring, responsible, non-violent and non-abusive adults.

There are no excuses. We all have choices.

I can't believe anyone could do anything so vile to a child,but an interesting comment was made after the baby P case ,the just of which was: everyone is aghast at what has happened to Baby P, but if he had lived he would probably have become an abuser himself, and then HE would be vilified. We need to rehabilitate offenders.

notso that is exactly right , its good to see you

Notso, wise words from a well-informed woman.

Thanks Ana

Is that you, notso? Good to see you back if it is!

Definition.....Vulnerability refers to the inability to withstand the effects of a hostile environment

The vulnerable person in this situation was the 2 year old little girl who was tortured and killed.

Her murderer had a choice. She didn't.

I wont lose sleep worrying about the fear, terror, pain and horror HE may have experienced before he died.

I find it so tragic that often it is the 'step father' who abuses a young child. I am sure he was also handled cruelly as a child. It saddens me that the abused children I taught in my first years as a teacher in a rough part of London are now abusing the next generation and on and on. With the right education and support this should not happen. {v v expensive }

As a senior teacher I was involved in child protection work. I must say it can be harrowing. Often you can see the child in the mother or father and this is also very unsettling. One mother used to get to me in meetings as a true victim, however we were jubilant when the children was taken away from her and eventually she was denied any access. How sad , so many ruined lives.

I have no sympathy for the man in question at all. I do think he had the right to be protected in prison, though.

It's hard to feel any sympathy for child murderers who then get attacked in prison. I doubt any people living in Soham care a jot what happens to Ian Huntley. You can imagine the comments when he attempted suicide.

I want to say that he should have been protected in prison............. but I know that if he had done that to one of mine I would not have been responsible for my actions and would have said he got what he deserved.

That's quite true, Ana. All circumstances are different, and far too difficult to discuss objectively.

But that's exactly why we have a criminal justice system because it is so emotional

I was thinking along those lines after I posted, Marelli, and I came to the conclusion that although I stand by that post, if I were in the position you describe I cannot say how I'd react. We can only say how we feel at this moment, not how we'd feel if our circumstances were different.

It is an emotive issue, bluebell, and I understand what you're saying. However, if my child had been tortured and killed by someone, and it was proved without doubt that the person was the murderer, then I think I would feel he/she had got what they had deserved.