How Did These Savages Get Away With Murder?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-31730542

[jim360]

Goodness only knows, but a 31-hour deliberation and still only a majority verdict implies either that there is a lot more to the case than as couple of paragraphs on BBC News, or that there were some members of the jury who were just bloody-minded.

[jno]

presumably the jury - after 31 hours - conluded there was no intent to kill?This isn't unheard of, I suppose, though on the basis of a 100-word report they look as if they were lucky..

[Cloverjo]

As horrendous as it is, I suppose the jury concluded that the two women didn't plan to kill the girl.

[ToraToraTora]

50 injuries? right oh!

[Gromit]

I'm guessing the medical evidence could not prove that her death was deliberate. There was clearly an intent at maltreatment, but they probably didn't mean to kill her.
The Jury heard all the evidence, and we do not know any of it. So unless the juryy were all idiots, the likelihood is that this was the right conviction, even though a little girl died.

[ToraToraTora]

So they really wanted to keep her alive for more torture, that's ok then! We really need to have something in between manslaugher and murder, possibly along the lines of the US system Murder-1/2 etc

[sp1814]

TTT

In cases like these, it would be really helpful if the report actually said why a manslaughter charge was brought back by the jury.

As it stands, looking at your link, the first question I ask myself is, "Exactly what would they have needed to do for it to be murder?"

[Orderlimit]

Don't forget the intent for murder is the intention to kill OR cause grievous bodily harm (GBH)

[Cathyhuns]

Because in English law, the prosecution have to prove the case "beyond all reasonable doubt". If there is any doubt, or there isn't the evidence to prove that those individuals were responsible, then the verdict is not guilty. Unlike other countries, people in England cannot be found legallyguilty by association or by the media - and long may that continue.

[youngmafbog]

//Unlike other countries, people in England cannot be found legallyguilty by association or by the media//

Really ?

[RandyMarsh]

it is heartbreaking.

[ChillDoubt]

A bullet through the back of the head and a shallow ditch is what they really deserve.