On Monday one of the worst messages of all time was sent to would-be child abusers in this country. If you commit murder you can get away with.

The case of three-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri, being tortured and cruelly abused over a period of months by the two thugs – I won't even give them courtesy of using their names – is one of the worst in this country.

We as a country had a chance to stand up to child abusers – and say: ‘No you won't get away with it'.

And our justice system let us down once again. Seventeen years each and nine years until a chance for parole is unacceptable.

And why were the murder charges downgraded to manslaughter? It's being said the evidence from children is not good enough. Why not?

And was it murder? Of course it was. Did those two ugly mongrels actually bank on Moko surviving their beatings and actually living to tell the tale?

This country is absolutely disgusting in the way it handles these child abuse cases and doesn't respond early enough to save many of these poor, defenceless little souls.

We should all be ashamed. An easy prediction is nothing will change and further children will die at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them most.

K Morland, Katikati.