SIR – I have felt so sorry for the Shipley man sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his father (T&A, October 15), while people whom I regard as more deserving of punishment are fined lightly or bound over.

The murderer, in my opinion, has already served a severe sentence, after many years of caring for his old dad who needed much help with feeding, hygiene, attention many times by night or day, week-in week-out.

Recently I have been in a hospital ward in which two elderly ladies with dementia caused nurses and other patients distress and damage almost incessantly.

I felt extremely sorry for them because a lifelong friend of mine, a brilliant and highly-intelligent, fearless ex-soldier with a great sense of humour died last year after a few years of dementia.

But despite my great sympathy for the two ladies, I felt also sorry for other sufferers who had to endure endless misery. So I do feel sorry for the elderly man who had cared much for his dad, who was two years older than me.

Geoffrey Smith, Nab Wood Crescent, Shipley