[Christien]

I've long been an opponent of the death penalty, but that opposition has softened over the last couple years, mostly due to stories like this. I still pretty much disagree with the principal of it, but in a case like this, I don't think you could argue that either of the "parents" deserve a right to live.

Maybe it's because I've become a parent recently (our first is 16 months old and is sleeping blissfully upstairs) but I've become much more sensitive to stories like these. I really don't understand how you can be neglectful, let alone deliberately abusive, to your own child. We spent (and still spend) so much effort making sure our little girl is safe and secure (we're not overly paranoid, just sensible) not to mention happy. This is one coin I just can't see the other side of.