Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Brian Blackwell

 This page is an archive of the proposed deletion of the article below. Further comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or on a Votes for Undeletion nomination). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result of the debate was Keep. Woohookitty 9 July 2005 08:21 (UTC)

Brian Blackwell
This is about a psychopathic murderer whose only claim to fame was that he killed his parents. Will every madman now get a Wikipedia article? If he'd gone through medical school and killed people like Harold Shipman did, perhaps he would have been notable. Delete please. JFW | T@lk  30 June 2005 15:37 (UTC)
 * Comment. This is fresh in the news as Brian Blackwell was only sentenced yesterday. He may become a famous murderer, and therefore notable, or he may be forgotten, and be non-notable. I don't think we know yet. David | Talk 30 June 2005 15:39 (UTC)
 * Someone who is jailed for life to become a famous murderer? True, stranger things have happened... JFW | T@lk  30 June 2005 16:38 (UTC)
 * This may divert from the topic under immediate discussion but Who's Who long ago removed their prohibition on those with serious criminal convictions from appearing, on the explicit basis that the criminal are often no less distinguished than the law-abiding. The old DNB had one or two articles, which included the famous example of Eugene Aram whose article began "Eugene Aram, criminal, born 17..". The new Oxford DNB has many more notorious figures in it including some semi-fictional and others such as Jack the Ripper whose identity is unknown. David | Talk 30 June 2005 19:21 (UTC)
 * Perhaps cleanup then? Or ? Penwhale 30 June 2005 15:53 (UTC)
 * What will cleanup achieve? He's in jail! JFW | T@lk  30 June 2005 16:38 (UTC)
 * Very much a keeper. Pcb21| Pete 30 June 2005 16:31 (UTC)
 * Keep - thank goodness murdering both your parents under such circumstances is still unusual enough in the Uk to be notable, IMHO. Naturenet | Talk 30 June 2005 16:40 (UTC)
 * Keep - I'm tempted to agree with Naturenet: this is an unusual occurrence in the UK, not just a run-of-the-mill crime -- Francs2000 | Talk [[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|25px| ]] 30 June 2005 16:43 (UTC)
 * Keep, I concur with Naturenet and Francs2000. Sietse 30 June 2005 18:26 (UTC)
 * Comment -- this guy was on the front pages of major British newspapers today (June 30, 2005), so he's definitely notable. 131.111.223.26 30 June 2005 20:34 (UTC)
 * Keep. The case has received coverage in Australia. I read about it today. A Google News search shows 142 articles showing the case has been covered throughout the world. . Capitalistroadster 1 July 2005 01:29 (UTC)
 * Abigail Witchalls anyone? Isn't this what Wikinews is for? JFW | T@lk  30 June 2005 21:04 (UTC)
 * As far as I am aware no-one has a written a proposal on the extent and form of the overlap of 'pedia and 'news. I'd've thought that having news report day-by-day events "Abagail regains movement" etc but 'pedia having an overall bio on her and the attack would be fine. Certainly that seems to be existing practice. Pcb21| Pete 1 July 2005 08:49 (UTC)
 * Wikinews relies upon Wikipedia for what, in other news services, would have to be explicitly supplied background articles. It's one of the strengths of Wikinews that it has an encyclopaedia, a dictionary, a list of quotations, and so forth ready to hand to call upon, which other news services do not.  However, note the case of Votes for deletion/Maureen Faibish.  Not everyone who is newsworthy warrants a biography in the encyclopaedia. Uncle G July 1, 2005 11:33 (UTC)
 * Keep. James F. (talk) 1 July 2005 10:25 (UTC)
 * Strong Keep this made front page news. A very notable and shocking murder. NSR 1 July 2005 12:16 (UTC)
 * Transwiki to Wikinews but also keep here. &mdash; Phil Welch 1 July 2005 21:28 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in an undeletion request). No further edits should be made to this page.