2E

Who was to blame for Elias's death? Should Connie have been prosecuted?

She prosecuted herself and the press helped in the process. She feels she should have done more and seen more but she is worker not the child minder. I don't feel it was her fault. It seems that the mother was immature but up to the time that she drowned him she hadn't shown any signs of cruelty. Who could say?

The mother is to blame for Elias's death.
I don't see that hanging Connie out to dry achieved anything, in fact I think she was scapegoated. Unless you are going to take every child who is even slightly at risk from their family, then you are always going to run the risk of something happening to them. You can't guard every child 24 hours a day. These things happen...
I don't think Connie should have been prosecuted - this would only have been to appease the press or the public or whatever. It wouldn't have brought Elias back.
I don't think Connie neglected her duty here - but if she did, her superiors are as much to blame.

The mother is most definitely to blame, it was her actions that led to his death. But I also blame Connie's line manager, where was the high level of supervision needed in running this case. Connie was not doing a good enough job, but her line manager should have known this and put training and support in place. The system failed Elias!

I agree with you all. I feel like Jenny, as supervisor, didn't follow up the way she should have, but the blame falls squarely on Elias' mother.

Agree that the mother should be blamed not Connie.

>6 eadieburke: But authorities not blameless.

I agree that the mother is most definitely to blame.