Posted on 01/14/2005 12:34:21 PM PST by Rutles4Ever
A wealthy couple who killed their three-year-old adopted son because he was not the "perfect child" they craved were jailed for five years yesterday.
Ian and Angela Gay became incensed that Christian Blewitt didn't live up to their expectations of the ideal family.
Five weeks into an adoption trial period, as their frustration grew, they force-fed him more than four teaspoons of salt as a punishment for refusing his food before dumping him in a cot, where he collapsed. He suffered severe brain injuries, a heart attack and died in hospital four days later.
The prosecution alleged that he had also been either beaten or shaken after doctors found that he had 11 areas of bruising around the brain.
The couple, who had also adopted Christian's younger brother and sister, were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
Sentencing them at Worcester Crown Court, Mr Justice Pitchers said Christian's behaviour was "hardly out of the ordinary" for a three-year-old, even one that hadn't had Christian's "difficult start" in life. He was taken into care shortly after his first birthday and then spent time with foster parents.
He said the Gays, from Halesowen, West Midlands, were "intelligent people" and had made "a deliberate choice in cold blood" how to punish Christian.
He accepted that it was a single episode of abuse and that they were unaware the dose would prove fatal.
He accused Angela Gay, 37, of being "entirely selfish". Her return to work as Christian lay critically ill showed "where her priorities lay". He added: "You were interested only in what was best for you, not what was best for him.''
As sentence was passed, the Gays held hands and showed no emotion. Having left the dock they embraced before being led away separately.
Mrs Gay's parents, Margaret and Royston Swain, both 61, said they were "completely devastated" by the verdicts. Mr Swain said: "Angela has worked hard all her life and was one of the few actuaries in the UK. She would have been the perfect mother.'' Christian's natural mother, Tracey Osik, 23, said: "I was furious when I heard that they only got five years. It should have been life after what they did to Christian. I might not have been the best mother but they had all the advantages."
Christian Blewitt with his natural mother Tracey Osik Christian's maternal grandmother, Susan Osik, said her daughter "didn't give a damn" about her son or what happened to him, preferring to spend her time nightclubbing.
She said: "Tracey wasn't looking after him properly. All his clothes were wet. I was concerned about his health. He started losing a lot of weight. He had to go to hospital on a drip.
"He didn't have much but that couple had everything. They should have been able to give Christian, his brother and sister a far better life.
"They should have looked after him properly. Five years isn't enough. It was very cruel, and they should throw away the key."
Det Ch Insp Steve Cullen, from West Mercia police, said: "Christian led a brief life and we can at least be thankful that the period he spent with his foster carers were happy times. We are pleased that justice has been done for Christian today."
Publishers wishing to reproduce
Do not go to the link unless you want your heart broken.
...and this is substantially different from the millions of "unwanted" children killed a year how?
That kid sure didn't get perfect parents.
It's not any different except for a judge punishing this hideous murder with 5 years in jail.
I'm not sure what your point is.
Let me have these parents for a few minutes.... they won't see 5 years.
Ohmigod!
It's a post-natal abortion ... see also Susan Smith and Andrea Yates.
They should be dribbled down the steps of the Empire State Building.
... sure... a perfect mother, except for that killing the child as punishment thing. /sarcasm
Sorry. I was just venting my disgust for abortion. You are right though, stuff like this just breaks your heart. I just don't see how any human being could not mourn these evils...
What?
I'm glad it wasn't that new FN 5/7 that was used to kill the poor child. The Brits have become the most resourceful people at murder since their guns have been taken away. Go figure. Now I suppose the police will want a ban on salt.
And they couldn't just return the child to the adoption agency instead of torturing him? Sick.
I only pray that God lays judgement harshly and swiftly.
It's been a rough day all around. This is the third story in a week where a murdered child's parent has either gotten off on probation or, in this case, received a paltry sentence. I'm just as frustrated with abortion as you are, my friend. It seems the decay of society has accelerated to light speed in the past two or three years...
The Pope's comments about the Apocalypse the other day never rang more urgent...
There is some supremely ironic about these last words that your post picked up from the newspaper. It is probably fortunate that the couple wasn't able to reproduce, and tragic that they were able to get hold of someone else's offspring.
Or if the kid had attacked them with a knife or something and they had killed him in self defense they could have gotten life.
British law is a travesty. Ours isn't far behind.
Big Ben maybe.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.