Spelling really does count!

One of the sad policies in our schools is that spelling is of no consequence. As long as it's phonetically OK, it's OK, say teachers. Clearly not, as per this story: When Neil Brook, 33, of Salford, Greater Manchester, plunged the knife into Josef Witkowski's chest, the fatally struck man "let out a noise," Brook told the court in his murder trial. "The only way I can describe the noise is like someone taking a breath, gargling, and a scream, basically all rolled into one. I knew just by the noise he made that he was dead." The two had fought over a text message Brook had sent to his friend and neighbour. In the text, Brook had called Witkowski a "nutter" (crazy person), but his phone auto-corrected the spelling to "mutter" (vulgar or antisocial person), and Witkowski, 27, took offence. It culminated with Witkowski coming to Brook's flat and attacking him with a knife; Brook had stashed a couple of knives of his own, and fought back and killed the intruder, and then, police say, stomped on the dead body. Brook has been cleared of murder charges, but convicted of manslaughter. The judge warned Brook that he should expect a lengthy prison sentence. (RC/Bolton News)