"John W." wrote ...
> Michael Cash wrote ...
> > 
> > My point was that as far as criminal law is concerned, not every
> > killing is a murder. And if the judge says the father didn't intend to
> > kill, then the prime element of a murder charge is missing.
> > 
> But if he knew that action would (most likely) result in death, and
> willingly took that action, shouldn't that be murder? It's not like he
> bumped into the kid's high chair and he fell over.

You're at cross purposes.

Reporters shouldn't be reporting what "should have" been the charge.
The key bit in Mike's post is "judge says".