Teenager guilty of murdering a toddler

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/26/teenage-babysitter-toddler-murder-guilty

A 15-year-old babysitter was convicted of the murder of a toddler.

The toddler was beaten, bitten and her hair sheared off by the babysitter Karl McCluney. He was supposed to look after the two-year old while her mother was picking up a child benefit cheque and a birthday card. Karl admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murder. The court heard that the attack on the toddler was so ferocious that it led to permanent brain damage by the toddler. The injuries were from getting beat in the face repeatedly. After the attack he left the toddler lying unconscious on a mattress and watched some television. When the mother returned home she started screaming and asking why he did not called an ambulance. Karl answered that he did not do anything.

I think this is horrible, I am also wondering how this can happen in 90 minutes. As a mother you will never trust anyone around your children again. I am even wondering if this mother will be a mother again since the toddler was the only child. I think that it is very good that the court rejected the claim of Karl and I do hope he will get many years in prison. Maybe it is also a good idea to make sure he get’s some mental help and maybe there will be an explanation of why he did this. I do believe the mother also needs mental help to deal with all of this.