Irrespective of what society may reasonably expect to deter, the jury instructions provide "a persuasive argument that societal notions of fundamental fairness do not permit imprisonment for the simple
neglectfulness embodied in the civil negligence standard.
Or, to put it more realistically, shameful
neglectfulness masquerading as so-calledpostcode prescribing.
While his actress mum plays the perfect parent in a TV soap, he is left to change nappies, prepare meals and generally pick up the domestic pieces (and keep quiet about it in case her
neglectfulness gets noticed and ends up in the tabloids).
However, sentences such as "The pity returned; feelings of
neglectfulness, avoiding responsibility were thrashing about" challenge the reader to question whether the sentences are the result of unworkable literalness in translation or lack of proficiency in the use of the target language.