Second French child dies after being left in a car. Does the father deserve to be jailed?

Question

http://www.genevalunch.com/genevalunchrethink/2008/07/child-dies-left.html

Although not mentioned in this article in the Spanish press they mention that the father is "psychologically destroyed" and has been hospitalized but will be detained.

The Spanish article also mentions that in the case where a child died in a car in France two weeks ago the father had been distracted by an accident that he had seen.

It happened last year in Spain. More than two hundred cases recorded in U.S.A. since 1996.

Tragic accidents.......or do the parents deserve jail?

Answer 1

NOBODY DESERVES INPRISONMENT.

They need help, councilling etc, and to actually be educated, possibly supervised whilst with their children.

The USA Laws are quite stupid, you are even allowed to carry and use guns, this should be strictly prohibited, they are dangerous (as are knives) and Can Kill. Don't be the next victim.

In the United Kingdom, our laws are far stricter and people treat each other more respectfully.

Gemini_DJ.

Answer 2

Yes, I would agree they do, it's neglect... I agree with Agent Zero.

I go mad here, especially with a family member, she leaves her children in the car, especially if their asleep, whilst letting the engine run as not to wake the baby...

it drives me mad, especially as the car doors are open and anyone could jump into it and (God knows what would happen)

Answer 3

Of course,every parent has a responsibility to protect the well-being of their children,that should be their paramount concern especially when the children are not big enough to look after themselves and are reliant on that parent to keep them in a safe environment.

Answer 4

im not taking up for the parents but with todays technology it seems like this kind of thing could be avoided.

How about developing an alarm system that detects movement inside of a parked car. Someone forgets the kid (or pet) in a car. After a few minutes the car detects this through motion sensors inside of the car and sets off an alarm which also turns on the automatic windows to roll them down on their own-allowing some fresh air to get into the child. Or if you really want to really get fancy combine it with a thermostat. If the temp gets up too high  it starts the car up (automatic starters are becoming very popular) and turns on the air conditioner-while keeping the doors locked to keep strangers out of the car. This can be combined with the remote that most new cars come with to unlock the car-it could set off a beeper on that or maybe even be combined with your cell phone to automatically call and warn you.

All of this technology is really rather basic and exists and could esily be employeed into new cars without adding much to the cost.

Answer 5

a parenting course might do more good.

Answer 6

yes i  shoud say  he  should''?

Answer 7

I feel for the parents because they did not deliberately kill their children and I am sure they are devastated, but those children were in their care and they neglected their duties as parents. I do not understand how anyone can forget their own child, particularly for several hours. What horrific deaths those children must have suffered, all because their parents were too pre-occupied to think about them.

Answer 8

I am not sure that I like the sound of any of these tragic accidents. How do you prove intent rather than an accident.

Is this sometimes a novel way of infantacide!

Its a little too naive to accept the parents' version of events, but these would be hard ones to prove in court.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infanticide

Answer 9

.Yes they deserve jail, how can you forget you have a child with you? It's pure negligence IMO.

I can't see what the issue is here they have neglected the child to start with and they have been literally boiled alive because of their parents stupidity.

Where the h**l is Gemini living obviously not the real world!

zazamatazz what if the child is asleep and does not move that blows your idea clean away i have an easier one for you to contemplate, How about they don't leave the child in the car!

Answer 10

The parents deserve therapy and counselling as they may wish to have more children. They didn't do it on purpose. I know of a friend who left her child in the car for just one hour, to deal with an emergency(she is a medical doctor).

Nothing happened to the child, but she had to answer to the police who were there because someone had called them.

Answer 11

that is a hard one

Answer 12

Does the crime deserve the time?  Yes, but can you lock up someone who has lost their own child by their own hands, accidently?  I dont think so.  Yes, it was wrong, it could have been provented, and it is a trajedy, but I dont think jail time is necessary. The parent at fault, will have to live with this for ever, that is punishment enough.

Answer 13

Just read it and i`m disgusted.....they should be locked in a car and left to bake to death themselves.How do you forget you have a child in your rear seats? Its not plausible, i mean if you have to reverse in the car park you`d see them,pulling in and out you use your mirrors etc.....dont get it!

Answer 14

if they are aware of the dangers in the first place especially in a climate where its known,i think they should,especially how it was all day,your not even supposed to leave a dog,never mind a child,theres no excuse really.the fathers are bound to be distraught any one would who looses a child in any circumstances.especially if they are to blame.

Answer 15

It varies on a case to case basis. If the parent exercised poor judgment and deliberately left the kid in the car while they went to a movie or out drinking or something, yes, they should be charged to the hilt. Sometimes though it is just a tragic accident, than can and has happened to people of all walks of life. Usually it involves a parent who does not normally as part of their routine drop the kid off. They get distracted, the kid falls asleep, they park where no one can see the kid, and the kid's day care doesn't call when the kid doesn't arrive. In some cases the kid either snuck into the car or was placed in the car without the driver being notified. Sh*t happens basically, everyone has moments of distraction, with tens of millions of kids being transported every day, accidents will happen.

And if a child dies because the parent had a memory lapse, there's no need to punish them...they will be punishing themselves for the rest of their lives. I can't even begin to imagine the guilt and pain such parents must suffer.

Answer 16

yes

Answer 17

he caused the childs death so off to jail with him

Answer 18

I heard about a lady last week in the news-left her 4 year old in a car down in Florida while she went in to get her nails done.

He died.

She didnt get charged  with anything.

Im sorry for the kid but not for the parents. How can anyone be so STUPID not to know that the kid is in the car and not to leave it  in there. If i were to go down the road speeding and hit a kid killing him i would be charged with something. If i lock a kid in a hot car and the kid dies i get sympathy. That logic is just so screwed.

Answer 19

Did the parents mean to do this? They will be massively distraught already. What good will a jail sentence do for anyone? It's not like it would be a deterrent.

Jail sentences would be like throwing balls of wool at the women who are said to have sat knitting at beheadings during the French revolution.

Answer 20

How the h**l can you "forget" your child is in the bloody car?!

I can't beleive this.

And as for leaving a child in a hot car whilst he goes to see a bloody film  . . .  well, words fail me.

Some people should not be allowed to breed.  Yes they should get jailed.  They caused a child's death by negligence.

Answer 21

No matter what their reasons, the fact is they were responsible for those children & should have been aware of where they were at all times.

Saying he was "psychologically destroyed" is no defence. That is like a man that kills his wife saying he should not go to prison because he is in mourning.