It is a truly appalling story.
The dispassionate detailing of the wounds that the poor girl endured. The fact that it would appear the father deliberately tried to cover up evidence of his brutality by burning the body.
It really is unimaginable to attempt to understand what might motivate such appalling brutality and treatment. It highlights a lot of thing - but just how far some countries, regions and religions have to go in offering some basic acknowledgement that 50% of the population is not inferior by virtue of gender - that women and children should not be considered property or chattels but as human beings, with an intrinsic worth equal to anyone else.
Other things that give me cause for wonder - this was a preacher, a holy man. Does he genuinely think that his actions are consistent with his religion and preaching and his god? Or is he arrogant enough to think that he, as a holy man, is above the law, above considerations of mere mortals? I find it genuinely shocking that someone of faith - supposedly a representative of a religion of peace and love- can carry out such actions. To the faithful, aren't such actions evidence of the work of the devil, or false gods, or blaspheming infidels?
And then the legal system itself - A judge ruling that time served - a few months - is sufficient, and that a cash sum of £31,000 is an adequate recompense to a grieving mother and family - and as someone else here has already pointed out, that it would be double had the victim been a boy.What kind of legal system offers protection in law to a father murdering or beating his children or wives?
This ridiculous system has to change. And vicious, callous people that can inflict such brutality upon others need to face a properly severe sentence, rather than a slap on the wrist.