Another pathetic sentence

A Fife father who murdered two of his children in their bedrooms must spend a minimum of 17 years in prison.

Robert Thomson, 50, stabbed his children, Michelle, 25, and Ryan, seven, 26 times at the former family home in Buckhaven on 3 May.

His estranged wife June Thomson, who found her children's bodies, said Thomson was "full of pure evil".

At the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge gave Thomson a life sentence for the "almost unimaginable" crimes.

An earlier court hearing had been told that Thomson had to be treated in hospital after turning the knife on himself after the murders.

The court heard that since March, he had reacted badly to the break-up of his marriage.

Mrs Thomson said outside the court that her estranged husband was an "evil and sick man".

She said: "It wasn't long enough, 17 years, I think that is disgusting, for two beautiful children's lives, it's not long enough.

"He is an evil, sick, nasty, horrible man who is full of pure evil and badness.

"He has given me no answers why he did this.

"He stole their lives away from them."

Judge Lord Menzies said the vulnerable children had been entitled to their father's support and protection.

He said: "I regard this crime as being of the utmost seriousness.

"For any man to kill his child is a ghastly, horrific crime.

"To kill two of your children, each in different ways vulnerable and under your trust, is almost unimaginable."

Supt Alistair McKeen, head of Fife Constabulary's CID, said: "Any murder is tragic for those left behind whatever the circumstances.

"In this case it has been compounded by the very young age of Ryan and Michelle and that they have died at the hands of their own father, the very individual who they would have looked towards to protect them and to see them through their lives."

The court heard that Thomson had sent another son to a local supermarket, then stabbed his son and daughter to death in the empty house.

His son Ross, 20, later returned with his girlfriend, Kay Wallace, and they went to his room to watch a DVD - unaware that the two bodies were lying in their bedrooms.

Thomson, worried by their on-going divorce proceedings, had left a suicide note urging his wife not to blame herself.

On 3 May, Mrs Thomson had been planning to move into a new flat in Markinch with Ryan and Michelle.

Mrs Thomson had been cleaning her new flat and had taken Ryan and Michelle to their father's house.

At about 1600 BST, Thomson asked Ross to go to Asda for things he said he had forgotten.

When he returned just over an hour later, Thomson told him Ryan and Michelle had left.

Mrs Thomson went to the house to pick up her children later that day and found them dead in their beds.

Thomson, who had slashed both wrists and stuck a knife into his own stomach, was taken to Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, where he was later interviewed and charged.

The court heard he had left a suicide note which included a message to his estranged wife: "June - too much pain, lies and hurt. Don't blame yourself. I will look after them. Just like your mother, move on alone. Love Rab XXX"

Thomson spent part of his time on remand in the state hospital at Carstairs, but went to court from Perth Prison.

Defence QC Gordon Jackson, said doctors in Carstairs had found no evidence that Thomson was suffering from any mental illness

Sick, evil twisted b*stard 17 years is nothing, he should never be allowed to see the light of day again

There are far too many of these stories. What on earth is wrong with people?

I dont know, it seems to be some sick new trend. Get bombed out by your partner so kill your kids This guy wasnt depressed had no mental problems, and no excuses whatsoever, just a selfish moron who's kids meant so little to him, he killed them to get back at his ex

There are times when I think a 'final' punishment would be best for some criminals.

A father promised his two-year-old son an exciting day on the waves-while secretly plotting to drown both himself and the boy.

Alan Watkins, who was in despair at the breakdown of his marriage, carried out the plan to throw his son Arun from their tiny dinghy before jumping in himself.

Last year, a coroner ruled there had been a tragic accident. But the case was reopened after a message was discovered from Mr Watkins spelling out his deadly intentions.

Alan Watkins, 50, and son Arun Leon Watkins

Fresh evidence: The inquest into the deaths of Alan Watkins, 50, and son Arun Leon Watkins, two, has been reopened

At a second inquest it was revealed that he had secretly bought the motorised inflatable Zodiac Comet-not intended for use on the open sea-and promised his son an excursion at Littlehampton, West Sussex.

But privately the unemployed nurse, 50, had planned to kill them both to spare Arun the 'trauma and upheaval' of his pending divorce from the boy's mother Sheena, the inquest heard.

The case was reopened after his computer memory stick was discovered on top of a bathroom cabinet by a friend who was helping to clear the Watkins family home in Southwark, South London, in February.

Filed on the stick was a letter with the title Moose-Mr Watkins's pet name for his wife. It said: 'While I know what I'm doing is wrong, it honestly but sadly feels like the best option for Arun and for me - and I have always said I would keep Arun's best interests at heart.

'Me taking my life would have left Arun to face a very poor and disturbed life. I could not do that to him and there was no sign from you that you were willing to compromise for any other option.

'This way, we know he had two very happy years, and doesn't have to go through the torture and unhappiness of coming from a broken home.

'He won't suffer any pain. You know that about me. And he will also be happy, and not have to suffer the trauma and upset he would have faced. I really do hope you find peace in your life now.'

The letter was dated June 1, 2007, nine days before the tragic trip to the seaside. In a statement to yesterday's inquest in Worthing, West Sussex, Mrs Watkins, a nurse, said: 'On June 10, I told Alan I would be moving out with Arun the following day. He said he would take Arun swimming for the day, which was not unusual, but when I asked when they would be back, he just smirked.'

Later that day, she had to identify the body of her son. Her husband's body was washed up two days later.

On Friday coroner Penelope Schofield ruled that Mr Watkins committed suicide, and recorded a verdict of death by unlawful killing for Arun. She said: 'This is such a human tragedy.'

But after the hearing, Mrs Watkins said: ' I condemn the callous betrayal of a trusting child and loving son. There will be no forgiving or forgetting-how can there be?
And another one. Jesus what is wrong with these people

Unbelievable self-indulgence. He couldn't even think up a good excuse for ending the boy's life, using the broken-homes reason was obviously a pop at his wife for divorcing him. Bastard.

Just awful, evil sick scumster bastards, ending innocent children, peoples lifes, selfish bastards indeed, they should rot.