Thursday, November 03, 2005
Ahh, The Elton John Defense
A woman in the UK who killed her son (a 36 year old man with Downs Syndrome whom she had cared for her entire life) and then attempted to kill herself, was spared a jail sentence. The judge who believed that the extraordinary circumstances that led her to commit murder warranted an extra helping of mercy.
Mr Justice Gross sentenced her to two years’ prison, suspended for 18 months, and told her: “The pressures you faced were extreme.”
He said that, while all human life was sacrosanct, her case had “exceptional factors” and “the merciful and right course” was to suspend her sentence.
“You will be punished as long as you live, in the knowledge of what you have done and what you have lost.”
Sasha Wass, defending, said Markcrow, who had pleaded with the authorities for help with caring for her 16st son as his condition deteriorated, lost her mind last March.
“She was exhausted beyond reason,” said Miss Wass. “Patrick had spent the entire day listening to the same Elton John CD, shouting the word ‘Elton’ repeatedly. She was literally at her wits’ end.
“She was overwhelmed by feelings of despair and she wanted to die, but all the time there was the worry of what would happen to Patrick.”
Ah, yes, the Elton John defense.
Well, that’s alright, then.
Read the story. (Link added with a belated, “Oops.")
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The 16st child?!
Do you have a link to the article?
Here’s the link.
At least Judas Priest and Ozzy only made you want to kill your SELF!
I always kind of wanted to kill those idiot guys who spilled beer on me at the Judas Priest concerts, but, you know, didn’t.
I can just see it, “Elton” will become an verb just like “google”.
“I’ll elton you if you don’t shut up!”
Dude, did you see House on Tuesday? It totally eltoned.
Yeah, it could happen.
matt-
sixteen stones is only 224 pounds, for a 36 year old man, that isn’t outrageous. Heavy, but not unbelievable.
Well, hell, I’ve weighed 224 pounds. I thought they meant 16th but got the ordinal suffix wrong. What does his weight have to do with it, anyway?
She may have had to provide certain physical assistance to him...when I worked in a nursing home long ago, the home admin declared that most residents over 200 pounds had to be “two person assist” for baths or transfers to wheelchairs. Just a thought, given the son was disabled.
Oddly, I though that 16 stone meant 320 pounds.
Shows what I know.
Thanks, Jo, that makes sense.
Z: Google to the rescue.
I find it odd that they referred to him as a child. Perhaps it was to indicate his medical condition?
Hey, Jo :D How ya doin’? Miss ya :D
Oh, and Matt, I thought the same thing, so when I followed the link Patrick provided, I still couldn’t discern what the heck it was supposed to mean.
Aren’t we all our parent’s “children”?
"I value private property rights.”
Sure you do, as long as the owner isn’t an “asshole” or an “idiot.”
Whoa, that’s the wrong thread. Sorry.
And I’m leaving it here. Just for fun.
Heheheheh.
You are so good to us, Z.
Hmmm, I’ve been thinking...If someone could elton you, what would a Boy George be?
Hmm, that would be an attack from behind?
Or maybe, a horrid make-up job?