The Philpotts

[GM-MarkB]

I'm sorry to say "Why am I not surprised" ?

http://news.uk.msn.com/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=250109645

I saw him crying at the press conference and just thought...it was you

[donnyroversfc]

The police would have suspected them from the start... Hence the televised press conference they got them to do, that is a tactic by the police used to study their reactions while they have their guard down.

[Muttley]

I'm sorry to say "Why am I not surprised" ?

http://news.uk.msn.com/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=250109645

I saw him crying at the press conference and just thought...it was you

And if he hadn't cried, then no doubt you'd have concluded that he was guilty as well.

As far as I'm aware they haven't been convicted or even charged yet.

[GM-MarkB]

I'm sorry to say "Why am I not surprised" ?

http://news.uk.msn.com/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=250109645

I saw him crying at the press conference and just thought...it was you

And if he hadn't cried, then no doubt you'd have concluded that he was guilty as well.

As far as I'm aware they haven't been convicted or even charged yet.

Wrong end of the stick my friend...I wasn't condemning them at all.  Sometimes you just get a feeling about things, i'm sure we've all had that moment. Don't know why I had it, just did...and now this

[donnyroversfc]

I get the same feeling everytime i see the McCanns on tv.

[RoversAlias]

It's all seemed very odd from the very start of the event being reported, I reckon. Let's see what the courts decide...

[Nudga]

Insurance job gone wrong!

[5minstogo]

This is the guy who had 17 kids right?  Wasn't he in the news as he wanted a bigger house provided so he could live with all his kids, his ex wife and his current partner?

One way of getting a new house I guess.

[Filo]

Lets hope some of you lot don`t get called up for jury service, there`d be no point in holding a trial would there?

[5minstogo]

Lets hope some of you lot don`t get called up for jury service, there`d be no point in holding a trial would there?

Purely speculation based on the limited information I've seen. Would be a bit different in a trial with both sides of the story wouldn't it.

I think it's fairly unlikely any decision will be made based on my comments on a footy forum.

[RoversAlias]

Lets hope some of you lot don`t get called up for jury service, there`d be no point in holding a trial would there?

The big difference Filo is that this is a discussion forum, and not the crown court. Obviously we wouldn't just decide in one sentence with no evidence were we on jury duty.

[donnyroversfc]

Insurance job gone wrong!

This is the guy who had 17 kids right?  Wasn't he in the news as he wanted a bigger house provided so he could live with all his kids, his ex wife and his current partner?

One way of getting a new house I guess.

Then why do it when the children are in the house? I'm sure with all the child benefits they get they could have bought themselves a good arsonist to burn the place down while they we're all on a day out in skeggy or summat.

[5minstogo]

Insurance job gone wrong!

This is the guy who had 17 kids right?  Wasn't he in the news as he wanted a bigger house provided so he could live with all his kids, his ex wife and his current partner?

One way of getting a new house I guess.

Then why do it when the children are in the house? I'm sure with all the child benefits they get they could have bought themselves a good arsonist to burn the place down while they we're all on a day out in skeggy or summat.

Quite possible he thought they would all get out in time? Who know's. I'm sure the truth will come out.

[donnyroversfc]

Insurance job gone wrong!

This is the guy who had 17 kids right?  Wasn't he in the news as he wanted a bigger house provided so he could live with all his kids, his ex wife and his current partner?

One way of getting a new house I guess.

Then why do it when the children are in the house? I'm sure with all the child benefits they get they could have bought themselves a good arsonist to burn the place down while they we're all on a day out in skeggy or summat.

Quite possible he thought they would all get out in time? Who know's. I'm sure the truth will come out.

Must be seriously ill in the head to take that gamble! They've been on Jeremy Kyle though before i think, so that would prove that!

If i was a dad i don't think i'd even feel comfortable lighting a candle near them, never mind setting the house on fire (purposely) with them in it.

[The Red Baron]

Then why do it when the children are in the house? I'm sure with all the child benefits they get they could have bought themselves a good arsonist to burn the place down while they we're all on a day out in skeggy or summat.

Hired arsonists can be very dodgy. Just ask Mr Richardson!

The following evening, the hired arsonist, Alan Kristiansen, left a message on Richardson's answering machine saying: "The job's been done."

[Thinwhiteduke]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-18261680

[RoversAlias]

Fire being as unpredictable as it is, perhaps he underestimated the power of the flames. It is a horrible scenario whichever way you envision it happening now though. Such a shame.

[Standanista]

These are facts, no more no less:

1. Philpott has been in a long-running dispute with the local council, trying to get a bigger house.

2. In 1978 he was convicted of attempted murder after repeatedly stabbing his former girlfriend, then 17, with a knife.  This is public domain information but is not being reported in the cover stories of the UK press.

3. Derbyshire police have had the couple under close surveillance since the fire incident, and now feel they have enough of a case to bring formal murder accusations against the pair.

[jucyberry]

When I saw the appeal I must admit that I felt very uneasy about his demeanor, I couldn't see any tears as such..I put it down as him being quite understandably  in shock..I also felt guilty thinking that so didn't say anything...

I read this thread out to Stace, her comment? I thought that but didn't like to say because I thought it was me being cynical as usual..
I think IF it turns out to be true, (and it is a huge IF) that they perhaps thought if they were seen to be victims of a hate crime that the council would re-home them,  that there would be a bit of a fire and he would get them all out..But he didn't factor in how fast carbon monoxide can kill.. Perhaps there was something in the hall way that gave off unexpectedly high emissions of noxious fumes...

I hope that isn't how it pans out, I truly hope they are innocent but I wouldn't be at all suprised if it does.

[Standanista]

If you trawl forums like this, particularly Derby-based ones, you'll see that local opinion for some time, from people who know the family, has been that they started the fire to get rehoused.  That's just rumour - innocent until proven guilty and all that - but were Paddy Power to open the book on who did it I'd be having a few quid on either Mick or someone who he's paid to do the job for him while he was out of the house with an alibi.

[mjdgreg]

I'm surprised they've been charged with murder. I would have thought manslaughter would have been more appropriate. It seems to me to be a fire to get a bigger house. It went horribly wrong because the effects of fire were underestimated. I don't believe they meant to kill their kids. Mick Philpott is supposed to have made valiant attempts to rescue them. Why would he have done that if he meant to kill them?

[Standanista]

I'm surprised they've been charged with murder. I would have thought manslaughter would have been more appropriate. It seems to me to be a fire to get a bigger house. It went horribly wrong because the effects of fire were underestimated. I don't believe they meant to kill their kids. Mick Philpott is supposed to have made valiant attempts to rescue them. Why would he have done that if he meant to kill them?

I don't think he meant to kill them either, but Derbyshire police will know the law, which says something like, if starting the fire was a deliberate act, and if that act could be reasonably expected to lead to the deaths of the victims, then that's strong enough a case to bring a murder conviction.  Maybe some lawyer reading this will be able to explain it better than me.

If the murder charges don't stick but they were to be found guilty of the lesser charges of manslaughter and/or arson instead, those offences still carry maximum sentences of life imprisonment, at the judge's discretion.  That's at the extreme end of the scale and is not the usual sentence, but obviously, a previous conviction for attempted murder is not going to be in young Mick's favour.

The other thing is, will his missus break rank and basically say that it was him that orchestrated it all, to save her own skin?

[mjdgreg]

Either way lets hope that when they go to prison the other prisoners 'sort' them both out.

[donnyroversfc]

The other thing is, will his missus break rank and basically say that it was him that orchestrated it all, to save her own skin?

I reckon she will you know!