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Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Of fires and parents

The charge of child neglect brought against Devon Pinnock after the death of his two year old child seems woefully inadequate. This isn't a case where the child broke an arm or a leg because of his neglect. A two-year old child was burnt to death becuase Mr. Pinnock was next door selling cigarettes! WTF? Negligent homicide, defined as "the killing of another person through gross negligence or without malice" and "unintentional killing(s) in which the actor(s) should have known they were creating substantial and unjustified risks of death by conduct that grossly deviated from ordinary care", would have been much more appropriate, but there is no such provision under the 'Offences against the Person Act' .

Under the 'Child Care and Protection Act 2003', an adult who has custody, charge or care of a child and wilfully assaults, physically and mentally ill-treats, neglects, abandons or exposes a child to suffer any of the above can be fined up to $500,000 or imprisoned with hard labour.

They should lock him, and anyone else who leaves 2 and 4 year olds in a house unattended, up and throw away the key.