With the couple now found guilty of killing the three year old boy - Is 5 years and Manslaughter the appropriate sentence?

I've read that they are considering appealing against the decision. I personally think they are lucky to get only 5 years.

I can't say I've ever heard of salt been used for a punishment or to harm someone before. Has anyone else ever heard of it? I just can't understand, why use salt?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/4167783.stm

can't say I've ever heard of salt been used for a punishment or to harm someone before. Has anyone else ever heard of it? I just can't understand, why use salt?

For the same reason one "parent" I came across poured washing up liquid in his son's mouth after he swore I'd imagine. It's not about rhyme or reason - it's the psychological control that perpetrators achieve with this sort of repeated abuse.

As for the sentence - I can believe they didn't mean to actually kill the poor ween but frankly no it's not enough.

So, you think it should be Murder then instead of Manslaughter?

Fair enough.

No I didn't say that - I did say that I can believe they didn't mean to kill the child.

I think the only 'intent' really was to bring the child into line. I shudder to think what other techniques they would have considered normal

They'll have really believed they were acting in the child's best interests - that's what's most frightening.

This child was obviously taken on as a fashion accessory and, because they couldn't cope with the stress :o of child care....

Pre meditated, malice aforethought downright child killing.

They should be the next in line for the noose behind Beverly Allitt!

Bring back Hanging!
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What surprises me is that when these people were going through the adoption process that they were not asked what methods of discipline they would use and what methods of discipline they thought to be appropriate.

To me that should of been the first thing they should of been asked, even though I doubt they would of said force feeding the child salt to be one of their methods.

They should of started off fostering first to see just how demanding parenthood is then gone into adoption if they felt they could handle it.

Obviously they didnt have a clue how difficult being a parent is but they should of realised that any child could be challenging with them because they need a settling in period with people they dont know very well.

I'm a single parent and my son has had the most challenging behaviour since the age of 2, he has stressed me out like you wouldnt believe but I would never dream of force feeding him salt or soap or anything like that.

It beggers beyond belief how on earth they could not of known how dangerous salt is in high doses.

Its very sad.

jo

These are intelligent people who hold down well paid jobs, as Don K dick said these kids were a fashion accessory, and seeing as the man in question had phoned the social servies previously to complain that the kid was a cabbage, but still got no satisfaction in having him removed one or the other of them killed the child by force feeding salt to him.
They should have been charged with murder, and given life sentences.
These child murderers show their true feelings by coming back to court to appeal against their sentences.

Originally posted by Siân
No I didn't say that - I did say that I can believe they didn't mean to kill the child.

I think the only 'intent' really was to bring the child into line. I shudder to think what other techniques they would have considered normal

They'll have really believed they were acting in the child's best interests - that's what's most frightening.

Sorry about that, I mis-read your post. I thought you said 'I can't believe they they didn't mean to kill the child'.

Washing the mouth out with soap is an old fashioned method associated with bad language.

It's not inconceivable to think that with smacking virtually outlawed that parents may be seeking alternative methods to install discipline.

I hope we don't see anymore like this.