Philpotts Found Guilty Of Blaze Deaths.

[sandyRoe]

The stupidity of some people is amazing

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/three-guilty-over-derby-fire-deaths-281906/

[hc4361]

It wasn't murder, em. Murder needs the deliberate and pre-meditated intention to kill.
They were charged with manslaughter and they've been found guilty of manslaughter.

I don't know why you are so intent that it is murder. What is your definition of manslaughter?

[kylesmum]

They might not have a conscience at the moment but i'm sure their fellow inmates will soon prick it.

[emmie]

hc i know what you are getting at, but in my mind it's murder, not by law perhaps, not in the eyes of the judiciary, but they set the fire that killed 6 young children, murder is the only way i would think of this, sorry if that doesn't fit in with what the law says. I hope they rot.

[jackthehat]

Iluvspikey (and others) - Had they been charged with Murder, and the Jury had been persuaded that there was *no intention* by them to kill their children........they could have been found Not Guilty and walked away from the courtroom.

How would you have felt, then?

[chaptazbru]

I agree with you em.

[kylesmum]

The Judge will hand down the same sentences as if they had deliberately murdered their children, rest assured.

However, in the court of law manslaughter was the appropriate charge, if they had been charged with murder they would have been found not guilty and would have been freed. So the correct charge was levelled at them.

[kylesmum]

Crossed posts jackthehat, same thought process.

[sandyRoe]

No he won't. A conviction for murdering 6 children would merit a whole life term. I said earlier they might get 12 years. Any more and they could have grounds for appeal against their sentence.

[kylesmum]

A murder charge wouldn't have held.

I'll bow out now and await their sentences, they might receive a 12yr sentence for each child for all any of us know....

[humbersloop]

apart from the risk of appeal sandy, why do you think only 12 years?

[hc4361]

Sandy, a charge of manslaughter can result in a life sentence.
I fully expect all three to handed life sentences.

[sandyRoe]

We've seen people convicted of murder getting a recommendation that they serve 12 years. I don't think that sentences for manslaughter would go much above that.
I hope I'm wrong in this case.

[emmie]

sentencing is on wednesday, so we will see. I take your point, had they been released, if on a murder charge. Doesn't mean i don't think they killed their own children. He is some bstard that's for sure, and someone in the gallery said so, so they cleared the court.

[jackthehat]

We all know that they killed their own children and I believe that they will serve a long sentence because of it.

[EvianBaby]

Will they be handed a sentence for each child that died or one that accounts for all?

[emmie]

for once i hope you are right.

[humbersloop]

I think each death is a seperate offence, but sentences would be served concurrently

[Barmaid]

I suspect the sentences will be concurrent (ie run together rather than one after the other) since the deaths all arose out of the same act.

My guess is that he will get the longer sentence (he was the mastermind and he has previous); Mosley will get a longish sentence and the wife will get the lesser sentence. That's just my gut feeling though.

And however long they spend in prison - every day will be a living nightmare for them. They killed children. They are up there with Nonces.

[Orderlimit]

The comments that the offence of murder requires deliberate intent to kill etc is not fully correct

[Caribeing]

Call it what you like they still murdered their children, good cases for the death penalty would probably do them a favour put them out of their misery, how they can live with what they have done is beyond me, all I can see are those happy smiling innocent kids.