Mental illness isn't killing children, parents are.
On the morning June 11th, 2008 Rebecca Morley told her husband “everything was ok” and then proceeded to smother her four week old baby.
Just over two months later she asked to get her bail conditions changed so that she could visit a ski resort for a holiday inbetween court hearings.
She was charged with infanticide, convicted and then sentenced to two years intensive supervision. Post natal depression was cited as a cause for the death of the baby but after she was sentenced Morley retracted the defense stating through her lawyers that “she did not suffer post natal depression”.
Not knowing what intensive supervision was and trying to suspend my presumption that it probably meant visiting a social worker a few times every six months and reading some self help books, I went off to read about it and found I wasn’t far off the mark.
An intensive supervision order has the following conditions;
Program
The program component assesses personal factors which may contribute to the offender’s criminal behaviour. It encourages the offender to recognise and take steps to address those factors. Offenders must undergo assessment and appropriate treatment, attend specified programs, or live at a particular place during assessment and treatment.
Community Service
An offender may be ordered to perform between 40 and 240 hours of unpaid community work. At least 12 hours must be worked each week. Community service work must be carried out with an approved non-profit agency or project, such as the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, or local council beautification schemes.
Curfew
A curfew may be imposed for up to six months to restrict the movements of offenders in periods when there is a high risk of them reoffending. It may apply between two and 12 hours in any one day, with offenders also liable to electronic monitoring, at the direction of a community corrections officer.
So basically enter some wishy washy program making sure you sample the tea and biscuits after each session, ladle out some soup a few hours a week and don’t spend the night out for 6 months.
The maximum sentence for infanticide is seven years imprisonment, so in other words Rebecca Morley got off scott free.
Getting off killing a baby with a pancake of a sentence wasn’t enough for Morley though. Upon release she began to appeal for a “greater understanding of mothers with psychiatric disorders”.
Once again mental illness grandstands in the face of personal responsibility for your actions.
The following are examples of why I believe mental illness should not be taken into consideration when sentencing what are effectively child murderers.
Yeeda Topham
After a suicide/murder attempt of carbon monoxide poisoning, Yeeda Topham carried her 21 month year old child up eight flights of stairs and jumped. Yeeda survived with multiple fractures to her head and a leg that needed to be re-attached to her body, her son James was crushed and died.
Yeeda eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was released without punishment, she claimed post natal depression was to blame. She spent a year in custody as her case was heard.
I just want people to know that I feel great regret about losing James and the hurt that it has caused everybody.
May, 2002
Gloria Thomas died of infections resulting from severe untreated eczema.
IN the last months of her life, baby Gloria Thomas suffered such terrible eczema her skin would weep and peel, sticking to her clothing when she was changed.
Gloria’s parents, Thomas and Manju Sam attempted to treat their daughter with homeopathy and ignored the advice of medical practitioners in two different countries.
At the height of Gloria’s painful condition they packed their bags and went for a holiday in India. Gloria died 10 days after the family arrived back from their holiday. Only two out of those final ten days were spent in hospital.
Thomas and Manju are currently on trial for manslaughter, they have both pleaded not guilty.
Leilani Neumann
Madeline Kara Neuman died at eleven years of age from complications arising from diabetes. Despite Kara being unable to walk or talk her mother, Leilani Neumann refused to seek medical treatment and instead relied on faith healing to cure her daughter.
Defence lawyer Gene Linehan said Neumann didn’t realise her daughter was so ill and did all she could do to help, in line with the family’s belief in faith-healing.
“The woman did everything she could to help her,” Mr Linehan said. “That is the injustice in this case.”
Leilani was found guilty of reckless homicide but was released pending an appeal. Her reasons for an appeal are because “expert testimony on faith healing was not allowed”.
How delusional do you have to be to believe that having some expert testify the wonders of faith healing is going to get you off a homicide charge?
Shellay Ward
Shellay Ward weighed a healthy 20kg in 2006, by November 2007 Shellay weighed 9kg and died of chronic starvation and neglect.
On the morning of Shellay’s death her father, Blake Ward had been betting on horses over the internet from about 9:30am. At 11am he found his wife, Sharon Ward singing to and cradling the “almost mummified” corpse of his daughter. Sharon had discovered Shellay had died at approximately 7am.
Blake Ward
Blake gave his wife a valium and panadol and she then went to bed, the police were not called until 1pm. Blake had a documented history of Valium (diazepam) abuse since the age of 18.
Shellay Ward lived in Hawks Nest on a mattress on the floor in a room with a thick urine stench and piles of feces in a corner. She died with black vomit oozing from her lips and bullants crawling in and out of her mouth.
Her parents have been charged with murder but have pleaded not guilty. Blake and Sharon believe they are innocent on the grounds that Shellay “was autistic and had a development bone disease that prevented her from growing normally.”
Clearly. The Ward’s trial is currently being heard at an East Maitland court in NSW.
What she’s really calling for is an acceptance that this sort of gross neglect is acceptable on the grounds of an illness. “I had so and so disease so I am therefore not responsible for the death of my child”.
It is simply appalling that should the mental illness defense be dragged out that each of the above purpetrators have a shot at either being handed out a lollipop sentence or being absolved of their guilt entirely.
I’m all for rehabilitation but I strongly believe that it should come after the suspect has been tried, without mental illness having any impact on sentencing. Once you’re locked away you can receive all the treatment you want. This way a person is made to take responsibility for their actions and at the same time receive treatment.
Anything less and we simply cheapen the lives of the innocent lost.
May 28th, 2009 at 6:34 pm Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
Unfortunately you do not know the person you have an opinion on, nor the years of mental problems suffered prior to this unfortunate incident. You naively believe everything the media writes and make up any other information you think fits. Rebecca is a good person with a most unfortunate problem that has tragically resulted in the loss of a much wanted child. Get your facts straight and get a life.
May 28th, 2009 at 6:59 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Unfortunately at the end of the day a child was murdered. Nobody cares what went on prior and if the woman had mental problems for years beforehand what the hell was she doing having kids anyway?
That baby had nothing to do with her mental problems, didn’t ask to be brought into the world and certainly couldn’t fight back whilst she smothered it. Good people are capable of committing horrendous crimes and for that they should be punished.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
I hope that your world remains perfect and that you don’t, through accident, misadventure or straight-out neglect, cause the death of another. I’m sure that you will never intend to. I also hope that you never suffer the horrendous effects of temporary or permanent mental illness. It is a prevalent, though often misunderstood, scourge in our society and must be addressed in a constructive manner so that people who suffer are not afraid to seek help. Comments such as yours do nothing to help – only drive those afflicted to hide their problems. Lucky you – you are one of the minority who are not touched personally by the mental ill-health of a friend or loved one.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:20 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
I’m not against people seeking help, if you have mental illness then by all means go seek treatment.
If you commit horrendous crimes and then try to hide behind mental illness then it’s ridiculous that you’re given a lollipop sentence. Sentencing should be made without mental illness having any bearing on leniency.
Whether you wind up in jail or whatever the sentence might be, then feel free to seek all the treatment you want.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:06 pm Cuteface(Quote)
It’s certainly not a crime to suffer from mental illness. It’s a medical condition just like any other health problem. Personally, I do not think it’s fair to use mental illness as an excuse to get out of jail sentence, but unfortunately, it happened quite often. People who actually do have mental problem should seek help to reduce the chance of causing any tragedy.
I would also like to make a point, someone can be a good person even when he / she suffers from any kind of medical conditions, whether physical or mental. However, I find it hard to acknowledge people who take others’ lives, accidentally or deliberately, as good people.
Just my personal opinion here…
May 29th, 2009 at 4:35 am Van(Quote)
Well…
I agree, the parents are the ones killing – not mental illness. Let’s assume for a moment the mental illness was the cause for a mother killing her child, the father (assuming he is in the picture) HAS to see the signs that something is not right. He HAS to know the mother is at risk.
From personal experience, most time people with mental illness do not hide it well for those closest to them.
So, this – at minimum – would make the father culpable in the crime.
I have a lot of sympathy for anyone who has mental illness, but that sympathy is gone once others are at risk. Again, those around the people know when there is something “off”
On a side note – I’ve known one person who suffered from PPD/PND. That person ended up taking her OWN life, not the life of the child.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:28 pm Cuteface(Quote)
Well said Van. Some of my clients actually suffered from PND and most of the time they tried to hurt themselves not their babies. They still cherish their little ones…
May 30th, 2009 at 2:46 pm Van(Quote)
Hey Cuteface – What is your profession?
May 30th, 2009 at 4:51 pm Cuteface(Quote)
Maternal health care co-ordinator / clinical psychologist
May 31st, 2009 at 3:08 pm Van(Quote)
Ah. I give you a lot of respect, you’ve chosen a career that truly can impact lives.
May 31st, 2009 at 3:26 pm Cuteface(Quote)
Thanks Van. I have enjoyed my work but at the same time, it can be challenging. I am doing further study in becoming clinical child psychologist, so hopefully I can help them during their earlier years in life before it’s too late…
June 5th, 2009 at 8:03 am Amanda Cole(Quote)
I am commenting on the alleged murder of Shellay Ward I used to know the parents of Shellay when they lived in South Western Sydney with their oldest two Daughters who attended the same School as my Children I know in this great land of ours you are “Innocent until proven Guilty” & I am not saying that Blake & Sharon Ward should not be affored the same civil right as we all deserve as Australian Citizens but they need to face up to what has happened & accept responsibility for their actions they know the truth & a lot of people who knew them “way back when” know too!Mental Illness is an insidious disease & this pair need all the help they can get but from within the confines of a “Govt Institution” whether that be a Jail or a Psychiatric Hospital as involuntary patients till they are deemed fit & sade to rejoin Society
June 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Totally agree Amanda.
Here’s another example where a mother locked her two year old son into a suitcase and threw it into a pond has been offered manslaughter.
Most likely due to a mental illness defense or some other sob story rubbish.
On a more positive note Thomas and Manju Sam have been found guilty of manslaughter.
How refusing treatment for your sick child over something as manageable as eczema is manslaughter is beyond me, but at least they’ve been found guilty.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:11 am Amanda Cole(Quote)
Thankyou for agreeing with me re:Shellay Ward’s Parents As far as the news link re: Rachel Pfitzner that is just as tragic & a bit closer to home as my Son’s friend was the one who found poor baby Dean at Mandurama Reserve Although I do feel sorry for Rachel being that mentally unsound that she harmed her own baby
June 17th, 2009 at 1:31 am Margaret(Quote)
suffering from mental health issues, I know from experience it can take less than
10 seconds to make a really bad choice, and in that 10 seconds I can truly say I didnt know what I was doing, my saving grace, what stopped me? My very innocent 4 yr old grandson would have been the one to find me. Yes people kill but but the mentally ill do also.
Unfortunately most are not ill but looking for an excuse not wanting Oz as you say, take responsibility for there actions. My opinion anyone who kills is mentally ill. Most people cant or dont recognize whats happening, believing its fatigue, stress, just need to get away. My case in fact for months I couldnt understand what was wrong with me, I worked as a 911 operator. My friends and co workers and family didnt catch it either. I couldnt imagine ever hurting a child but I can say there has been times I was completely out of control and not able to stop. But what damage I did do is on me. There are people out there who should not be held accountable. The woman in Texas who drowned her 5 children. The Dr. who took her off anti-psychotic meds and failed to follow through, the husband and his mother who was staying with them to help care for the children yet left her alone with them knowing she was having a problem, they are the ones who need to be charged with a crime. The mother needs to be hospitalized.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:23 pm Van(Quote)
@Margaret:
“The woman in Texas who drowned her 5 children”
The problem with your example here is that her husband was fully aware that she was unstable. He raised questions with her and other family members, he feared for the safety of his family and children but HE DID NOTHING.
If she was not to blame, he certainly should be held accountable as a parent as he saw the warning signs but failed to protect his family.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:18 pm christopher nicholls(Quote)
I am the husband of rebecca morley….I knew nothing of my wifes history of mental illness or the fact she was taking anti depressents on and off. Conveniently her brother is a G.P. Rebecca and my son spent 7 days in a private hospital where nothing was detected…although she constantly complained she could not cope….she and I were told this was normal. we then had 7 days together at home which resulted in her going to her parents farm as I satyed in perth. at the farm she was in serious difficultys and spoke of killing our son and suicicde and adoption for our child.I knew nothing of this…..within 24 hours of rebecca and my son returning she had killed our child…..her parents told me nothing of what she had endured on there farm…..so let me tell you straight….my conscience is clear….
July 20th, 2009 at 5:52 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Sorry for your loss Christopher, sounds like her parents weren’t as responsible as they should have been.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:09 pm Mezza(Quote)
This is late in the game, sorry, but you said that Rebecca retracted the PND defense after the case?? Why would she do that if that was what helped her case??
August 29th, 2009 at 6:17 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Because as it stands it’s perfectly legal to pretend you have mental illnesses during your trial and then go:
“what’s that, not guilty? YES! Oh no I never actually had that disease, you must have misunderstood when I said I had it”
It’s alright to pretend you have something in court but afterwards you don’t want the whole world thinking your a complete nutjob. It’s total horseshit.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:30 pm Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
So, ozsoapbox, you say to Chris that Rebecca’s parents “weren’t as responsible as they should have been”. Did you take note that Chris says that Rebecca had complained to the doctors for the full week she was in hospital, after giving birth, that “she could not cope”? Is that not a cry for help? Why was no help given then or why wasn’t she followed up on after leaving the hospital? They are the professionals. If she was told that what she was feeling/experiencing was normal, what chance did she have to seek help? What possible “sane” reason can be given for someone to kill a baby that was so very much wanted? No prison sentence could possibly equal what she will endure for the rest of her life.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:57 am ozsoapbox(Quote)
Given that Rebecca retracted her defense about having post natal depression after she was let off how serious could it have been at the time?
We have a woman who apparently cried out for help post birth, then went away to her parents house, then started to talk about killer her child and then murdered it.
After going to court and crying about how hard done by she was she gets off and then retracts ever having post natal depression.
If she could shrug it off so blase after her trial it’s not a stretch to suggest she wasn’t very convincing in the hospital.
Doctors take this thing seriously, they’re scared out of their minds of getting sued.
Why do you think the mental illness defense is so prevailant? Nobody wants to declare someone not mentally ill and then face action against them if they turn out to be.
Better to just declare everyone who goes to court mentally ill and let them off.
August 30th, 2009 at 11:41 am Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
All of your comments rely upon information you have read about in the media and we all know how reliable that information is. I know Rebecca and have discussed the realities of the case. If you considered that what you read could be only partly true or twisted to suit the audience, then perhaps you could see the shades of grey rather than the black and white. People like you would have had Lindy Chamberlain hung before the truth had a chance to surface. I hope that you do not have a career in the justice system.
August 30th, 2009 at 11:52 am Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
By the way, your sensationalist language is very offensive – “apparently cried out for help”?? There is no “apparently” about it – her husband told you that she did, and consistently. “Murdered” her baby – you have no right to claim this as this was not the charge nor the finding. “If she could shrug it off so blase” – says who?? Your colourful and ill-informed comments are bordering on the slanderous.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:02 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Ah so that’s where you’re coming from. Well all I can say is you guys can hold hands and pretend it didn’t happen and teddybear it up as much as you want. Rebecca killed a child, went to court claiming she had told everyone she had some sort of post natal depression, got let off and then retracted her defense.
You know if it smells like bullshit…
Alright she killed her baby. OH MY GOD EVERYONE HOLD HANDS AND DANCE! I feel so much better for her now.
If you can explain why she retracted her ‘I had mental illness’ defense then please do so. I think you’re taking opinion a little too seriously because you’re involved personally with the ‘victim’.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:05 pm Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
Can’t argue with ignorance. It has been … interesting.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:07 pm Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
By the way, I am taking the opinion seriously because it scares me what your opinion might do to her should she read this. I hope you realise how damaging your words can be.
August 30th, 2009 at 12:09 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Yeah, I mean god forbid anyone form a negative opinion about someone who killed a baby.
That’s never happened before.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:57 pm christopher nicholls(Quote)
Interesting PENELOPE…..you must know me then…whoever you are? Why hide behind an alias? I am not and I know more than the press dare to report…I accept my wife was ill…but will never accept the abandonment of me and shifting of blame to me.Like the judge said 3 times in her summing up…I am a VICTIM in this case and if anyone had a chance of seeing this would it not be her brother who is a doctor? It is a massive tradgedy but what that family has done to me since for example a pathetic violent restraining order for asking for my car back? Its now all about money as Rebeccas family are very wealthy and I am now being disposed of just like my son was…..any body want to sue me? go ahead.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:10 pm Penelope Pitstop(Quote)
Chris, I only know you in passing. I totally agree that you are a victim. I have no beef with your comments. I just disagree with the uninformed comments of another who hides behind an alias.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:15 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Chris states that Rebecca tried to pin it on him in court and Penelope’s running around blaming the doctors, the hospital and anyone else she can.
All I’m seeing is a woman who refused to take personal responsibility for her actions.
I’m so sorry you not only lost your son but also had the finger pointed at you in court Chris, that must have been terrible.
My best wishes are with you.
October 12th, 2009 at 4:30 pm Uhmno(Quote)
I have and am suffering from mental illness and if I was to kill a baby I would not expect to get off lightly. You can’t use this as an excuse and if you have the capacity to kill a baby you should be punished to the full extent of the law. Although it may be hard for you to swallow, some mental illnesses are a lot more mild in the scheme of things than others. If you pose a threat to society as a great as one like this, then it is unfortunate but innocent people should not have to suffer for your decisions.
If anything her killing a baby has given other people who can live in a reasonable manner with mental illnesses a bad name. Not everyone is immoral enough to do this.
March 27th, 2010 at 2:42 am Heather(Quote)
Ozsoapbox
You are saying what I’m thinking. Good on you. Common sense and responsible thinking for a change. How refreshing. I thought I was the only one with your opinions.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:38 am ozsoapbox(Quote)
No worries Heather, glad you’re enjoying OzSoapbox.
I don’t profess to be the be all and end all of common sense and responsible thinking but sometimes it worries me just how idiotic certain factions of modern society have become.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:12 pm lisa(Quote)
“I don’t profess to be the be all and end all of common sense and responsible thinking but sometimes it worries me just how idiotic certain factions of modern society have become.”
Oh, indeed?
I’m curious as to why you are so passionate about this when clearly it has never touched you. Why are you so angry? Is there a part of you that is challenged by the thought that you, too, could end up in a dire situation and manage it badly? Taking your fear of your own weaknesses out on someone you know nothing about isn’t a skilful way to approach these concerns.
If you are truly a compassionate person who cares about people (and not just “children” because it’s easier) then take a step back and consider this from a more compassionate (and indeed logical) standpoint.
Consider that you might not know the whole story. Ask yourself if the husband is such a victim why has he said “This is all about money” in his comment above? His child has died but to him it is all about money? If you lost your child in similar circumstances, would you be crying about money? And why is there a violent restraining order against him? You don’t just go out and pick up a violent restraining order at the newsagent – he must have done something to warrant this. His comments seem very strange to me – I don’t see how his wife’s family being rich is at all relevant. Very odd. It makes me wonder whether he gave his wife any support or was in fact a big part of the problem…
Also consider how often the media puts sensationalism before truth. Look at the fact that *you* are part of the media and think about how much research you have done into this story (it’s clear that you haven’t done much at all).
I feel that there are many things you have failed to see or consider. Part of growing up is to try to open your mind and gain wisdom. Ranting on a blog about things you are ignorant of is not a pathway to wisdom and growth, and has the potential to add pain to an already painful situation, which helps nobody.
I am not saying that people shouldn’t speak out against the terrible things that happen in the world – but I do feel that people should take a measured, informed and useful approach to dealing with such things. We will never achieve anything in society if all we do is hysterically point fingers at each other.
Of course, this is a symptom of the sheltered lives lived by many of us today. I’ve noticed over the years that people who see things as black and white are always people who lack life experience. This is understandable as these people naturally lack the vision, wisdom or compassion to consider possibilities that are difficult or make them uncomfortable.
Still, there is hope for everyone.
August 20th, 2010 at 3:46 am ozsoapbox(Quote)
There’s a whole bunch of things that have never touched me that I can be angry about. You don’t need to go through something to get angry about it.
uh where did this sentiment come from? Way to superimpose your own social and moral values onto myself.
Yeah I care about people but I’m not about to go try for any captain humanity awards any time soon.
I didn’t take it as him crying about money, but rather the Morley family don’t have their priorities straight. Fund massive legal campaign to get your daughter off murder and then go into financial damage control. This includes ‘disposing’ of husband who no doubt would take his children dying lightly.
I thought it was pretty clear.
Morley managed to avoid a blatant murder charge, getting a restraining order against anyone would have been a comparative walk in the park.
Well it sure helped me, I feel a hell of a lot better.
I don’t profess to be the media although I acknowledge in part I am a part of it. I don’t break any news stories per say but merely offer commentary on what’s going on in our world. About as close to actual breaking news is my writings about life in Taiwan, for the most part because the country largely hasn’t been written about.
Social commentary is purely my opinion and isn’t designed to be a breaking news platform for others.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:05 pm lisa(Quote)
If writing a blog post about “baby killers” is all it takes to make you feel better, I don’t really get why you were worked up enough to write in the first place.
I just get annoyed by people who contribute to a painful situation in a negative way, and act as though they are superior. It’s total hypocrisy.
The least you could do is post a few resources on your site to places that can help with post natal depression, so that people who are seeking assistance end up in the right place, and not having to confront someone with ugly and ill-informed views.
Shrugging your shoulders and saying it’s “purely [your] opinion” may seem a convenient way to shirk your responsibilities as a member of society, but one of the biggest problems in the world today is that there is too much perpetuation of ignorance and hate, and those who contribute to that in small ways invariably contribute in larger ways too.
I feel that if people care about anything enough to post publically about it, they should care enough to post in a way that is useful.
August 21st, 2010 at 9:40 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Who said anything about getting worked up? You don’t need to get worked up to have an opinion.
Some people get worked up and murder their children. Meanwhile some people are able to construct and present their thoughts without elevating their anger levels.
How is it hypocrisy, are you insinuating I’ve murdered children of my own? We can all contribute positively but that’s kind of pointless if we’ve got a negative view of the situation isn’t it? Supressing our opinons on matters is hardly healthy or constructive.
I just happen to have an outlet to express my own opinion. Maybe if Morley had an appropriate outlet her baby would still be alive.
This article isn’t about getting help with post natal depression. It’s about the bullshit going on in our courts where people who kill their children just cry mental illness and get off scott free without legal punishment.
I’d like to see it as contructive criticisism of the Australian legal system in dealing with the mental illness defence rather then a commentary on post natal depression.
August 22nd, 2010 at 7:03 pm lisa(Quote)
So, in short, you:
a) write negative posts about things you don’t really care about, but feel better about them after writing (even though you didn’t really care in the first place)
b) see no point in contributing in a positive way to anything you perceive in a negative way (is this apathy, cynicism or laziness?)
c) have no desire to improve your understanding of a situation in order to reach a solution
d) feel no sense of responsibility as a citizen but are happy to complain about other people’s perceived (by you) lack of responsibility as citizens
e) have no sense of compassion for anybody who does anything you cannot imagine yourself doing (and probably find it convenient to ignore that fact that once upon a time, the people you are judging no doubt couldn’t imagine themselves doing it either)
f) consider a series of personal attacks on people you don’t know, based on scant information, to be “constructive” criticism of a legal system
g) aren’t concerned about the mental health system that should be negating the neccesity of the legal system; in at least some of, if not all of, these cases
h) prefer emotional rhetoric to research
There is a (quite funny) website called “toothpastefordinner.com” and on it is a little comic of a guy in a protest march, holding up a placard that says “complaining is easier than doing anything”. Funny cos it’s true.
I don’t think there’s much point in continuing this discussion any further, but thanks for the time you took to respond, and for being relatively polite in your responses. I hope you take the time to think about some of the things above.
August 22nd, 2010 at 7:41 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
There’s a difference between caring and getting worked up. You seem to have trouble differentiating between disagreeing calmy and rationally and jumping off the deep end.
Not everyone who cares about something has to do so by becoming a emotionally involved raving lunatic.
Awareness is my tool and this is far more positive than killing children and crying mental illness.
Parents kill children, parents get caught, parents go to court, parents blame mental illness, parents get off scott free.
That’s all I need to know to form a negative opinion and claim our courts are giving way to much lenience to these murderers.
…you want me to have compassion for people who murder their children. Sorry but not going to happen.
Regardless of the reason there is simply no justification for killing your children. Crying mental illness in court and getting off scott free is just a kick in the nuts to society. And it’s certainly not justification for what these parents have done.
Try showing some compassion for the children who died.
Oh no, somebody has an opinion, GET EM!
I highly value my right to an opinion and it’s based on the information I know at the time. If I feel there’s sufficient information available for me to form an opinion and write about then I’ll do so.
I refuse to believe there’s any additional information missing in any of the stories featured in the article that will absolve the parents of killing their children.
The tagline for OzSoapbox is ‘because criticism isn’t an armchair sport’. What did you expect this site to be about?
Done and done. See you the next time somebody murders their child.
August 31st, 2010 at 1:29 pm Maroon(Quote)
ozsoapbox, I have to agree with you. There is just too much sobbing for the perpetrators of crimes here.
If a parent is mentally ill, and kills the kids then it is the system that is guilty because the children were left with that parent. If the parents claim mental illness falsely, and kill the kids, it is murder.
One point about mental illness is this, some mentally ill people should be institutionalised but are not because of lack of instituions. Here the guilty parties are our governments.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:38 am Neil Whyte(Quote)
The title is correct. We are the only species on the planet that feed our kids crap food, enough to give anyone mental issues.We also do a silly thing called vaccination thanks to a brainwashed society and medical fraternity.
One would attain optimum health and bodily function if they simply followed the laws of natural health – then you would rarely, if ever, have to see a Doctor,a hospital, a chiropractor, a clinical whatever etc etc. Just ask all those people who have lived long disease free and disability free lives.
If you don’t believe me, do your ‘own homework’ without any outside influences or conventional brainwashed indidious habits.