I will have to reserve judgement until such time I know all the facts of the case, whenever that comes out. However, on the face of it he is guilty of premeditated murder and he did himself in by running his mouth and preparing his house with tarps and traps. These kids were in training to be accomplished, life long burglars - that is a high risk profession. Unfortunately, for these two teens the career did not last long. And for Byron Smith - he got his wish to kill someone. It's a sick world out there.
Byron Smith verdict.
- Thread starter Marshwheeling
- Start date
Hi:
I have negative strong opinion in this case.
However in my long ago Military days it was taught that when you shot an enemy, making sure he was dead before moving to another location or turning away was a shot to the head. Perhaps this defendant was taught the same method. Also was he positive that there were only two burglars or more BGs upstairs ?
I have negative strong opinion in this case.
However in my long ago Military days it was taught that when you shot an enemy, making sure he was dead before moving to another location or turning away was a shot to the head. Perhaps this defendant was taught the same method. Also was he positive that there were only two burglars or more BGs upstairs ?
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
I'll trust the jury on this one.......
Cpo1944
Member
Why oh why, didn`t he just call the cops???? There is a lesson here for all of us. Even though we are armed and self-sufficient, we need to remember the law and not be vigilantes.
There's a lot to this story the jury didn't hear and most news outlets aren't reporting: Minnesota intruder trial - what the jury DIDN'T hear: Homeowner had befriended teen burglars he shot dead in his basement - but they were part of gang that drove him crazy for a year by 'treating his estate like a candy store' | Mail Online
Smith Verdict
Yes, we may "own" our homes but fail to pay your real estate taxes or commit other housing and building code violations and you'll quickly discover who really owns your home. That said, home ownership is not an absolute license to perform an execution, which is what apparently happened in the Smith case. Following that logic, could I shoot the mailman, or the guys who periodically enter my property without express permission, to read my gas and electric meters? I think not.
As a society, we value human life and it should only be taken as a last resort and when we are in fear of losing our own lives. Yes, a burglary was committed. The initial application of force may have been permissible but Smith took it upon himself to finish off an already defeated intruder. Smith got what he deserved.
Yes, we may "own" our homes but fail to pay your real estate taxes or commit other housing and building code violations and you'll quickly discover who really owns your home. That said, home ownership is not an absolute license to perform an execution, which is what apparently happened in the Smith case. Following that logic, could I shoot the mailman, or the guys who periodically enter my property without express permission, to read my gas and electric meters? I think not.
As a society, we value human life and it should only be taken as a last resort and when we are in fear of losing our own lives. Yes, a burglary was committed. The initial application of force may have been permissible but Smith took it upon himself to finish off an already defeated intruder. Smith got what he deserved.
I thought credit for that went to the Massaud.
I think the jury got it right. I don't know from just this thread, I don't know the ages of the perps, or if they were part of a gang. I know what gangs are known for: revenge. If I were confronted with gang members, in my own home, and they threatened revenge, none of them get out alive. Don't tell me the law, I don't care. They all die. There is no way I could dread what the legal system might do to me, compared to gang members.
He got it wrong. He'll pay for that mistake now. The legal system there also got it wrong and directly led to this. How were these two burglars, and apparently several more in the area, still walking the streets, free and still able to commit the break ins with impunity? It sounds as if there have been numerous burglaries committed by at least these two and everyone knew about it.
A lot of questions left unanswered.
A lot of questions left unanswered.
ChattanoogaPhil
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Linked in above story.
Smith never reported the burglaries to the sheriff except for once - a month before the killings
'He fed them dinner, he let them use the facilities,' his close friend Bill Anderson reveals to MailOnline
Judge ruled out evidence that Smith not only knew the teens, he had hired them and trusted them
Lonely old man... didn't want to go to police... felt betrayed... executed his teen pals in revenge. One behind the ear, one under the chin and one in the eye. Self defense... yeah sure...
A room full of idiots... all dead or behind bars. Moving along....
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Take a look at the picture of smith a year and a half ago when first arrested right after the incident. Then look at him now during the trial. He claimed he had been hit 11 times. It got to the point he was afraid to leave the house or it would be rifled. Read that lead that -DB- posted above. The neighbor friend said smith told him he hadnt slept in the last 4 months. He claimed to have lost over $40,000s in money, guns and other items.
I have lived part of that. The befriending someone and have them rip you off. This man spent 16 years all oversea`s, never was robbed comes home to retire and gets hit 11 times. He spent the biggest part of his life out of the politically correct U.S.A., comes home and it gets to the point he dont dare leave or be stold blind by "kids" he had befriended and had given a job.
Yeah, he went into a overkill mode and went too far. Yet dead is dead. They were dead, bought and paid for when they decided to break in the first time. If the jurors had went through a 1/4 th of what he did I believe it would have taken a LOT longer than 3 hours to convict him.
I have lived part of that. The befriending someone and have them rip you off. This man spent 16 years all oversea`s, never was robbed comes home to retire and gets hit 11 times. He spent the biggest part of his life out of the politically correct U.S.A., comes home and it gets to the point he dont dare leave or be stold blind by "kids" he had befriended and had given a job.
Yeah, he went into a overkill mode and went too far. Yet dead is dead. They were dead, bought and paid for when they decided to break in the first time. If the jurors had went through a 1/4 th of what he did I believe it would have taken a LOT longer than 3 hours to convict him.
Shooting Padre
US Veteran
In Minnesota, we have the right to use lethal force when there is a threat, to end the threat. Ending the threat may take different amounts of force, depending on how long the threat remains. In this case, the threat had ended before the fatal shots were fired. I agree that he may have had problems stemming from past experiences but there were many other ways to mitigate those circumstances. Did he have and alarm system? Were his valuables secured (Safe)? With the information I have, I believe the outcome was just. On the other hand, I do not judge him or the two victims. Could the announcement by the home owner that he was armed and would shoot have ended the situation. I don't know, I was not there. How terrible for any of us to be faced with the decision to or not to take a life. I pray that all of us who carry weapons for self defense never have to make that sometimes split second choice to pull or not pull the trigger.
nawilson
US Veteran
Caj, I think we have to trust the jury on all of 'em... at least until someone comes up with a better system. Sure, juries are composed of people, and people are fallible. I really don't think anyone else on this planet has a better system though.
Cooter Brown
Member
I wonder why the defense didn't plead insanity. It's been done in other cases with with a lot less justification for that defense.
If he truly hadn't slept for weeks, and had been exhibiting behaviors that were somewhat odd and paranoiac, then he might have had a defense and maybe ended up in psych custody.
In my mind someone with his work and service history who strolls up to a wounded teenage girl he just essentially ambushed and starts pumping 22s into her head has had some sort of breakdown. They might have tried that plea but I haven't seen anything about it. As far as I can tell in his past life he did not exhibit that sort of evil cruelty.
The story -db- linked has a lot of info about the history between the man and the kids as well as what went down in the shooting--he recorded the whole thing. The girl stood at the top of the stairs and called for the boy, and instead of warning her off the man kept quiet and shot her as she descended the stairs. I can't imagine someone in their right mind doing that.
In my mind the jury got it right given the charges and evidence as far as I have seen it.
The whole thing is pretty horrible.
If he truly hadn't slept for weeks, and had been exhibiting behaviors that were somewhat odd and paranoiac, then he might have had a defense and maybe ended up in psych custody.
In my mind someone with his work and service history who strolls up to a wounded teenage girl he just essentially ambushed and starts pumping 22s into her head has had some sort of breakdown. They might have tried that plea but I haven't seen anything about it. As far as I can tell in his past life he did not exhibit that sort of evil cruelty.
The story -db- linked has a lot of info about the history between the man and the kids as well as what went down in the shooting--he recorded the whole thing. The girl stood at the top of the stairs and called for the boy, and instead of warning her off the man kept quiet and shot her as she descended the stairs. I can't imagine someone in their right mind doing that.
In my mind the jury got it right given the charges and evidence as far as I have seen it.
The whole thing is pretty horrible.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I HAVE lived it. I believe I could have legally killed three people in two separate incidents. I knew them all. Had I not I dont know if I would have killed them or not. Hope I wouldn't have. Two carded their way in to beat me. I came out of my bathroom and there they were, in stocking feet with 24 ounce coke bottles. I had been expecting a visit and had my place set up too. Had a shotgun sitting behind a open closet door right where I could grab it. I also had a UNLOADED revolver sitting on a dresser right where they were standing. I came on a lot stronger than I felt hoping one would grab up the gun. My plan was to then snatch up the shotgun and have a strong talk. It didnt come to that. They sensed something, we had a few words and they left. They never did know I was in arms reach of the shotgun. I do believe my demeanor saved us all. And yes, it was over a girl. (My new GF that was his when he introduced us).
Another time a overgrown half baked neighbor boy broke in my house about 04:30 a.m. when I failed to be at work and was home with a house guest. I had left a model 60 loaded on my bar. The guest woke me up and said someone was out front. I didnt really believe her but pulled a s&w 1917 I kept under the mattress and went out to satisfy her.
"Karl" had my smith in his hand looking at it! He screamed, dropped the smith and ran for the door. I attempted to buffalo him with the 1917 and hit him a glancing blow as he made the door. I kicked him in the butt with my bare toe. He got outside and I yelled "I am going to shoot you after all" and shot over him out in the desert. He must have jumped 4 feet high and his feet were running in mid air. When he dug in his feet kept running and he almost fell backward but made it. It was just like a road runner cartoon! I never did call the police either time.
The overgrown kid was a kid brother of a neighborhood girl I had hired to clean house for me. I kind of think she might of had a stupid crush on me and sent over her idiot brother to see what was going on?
These storys are 50 and 40 years ago.
Another time a overgrown half baked neighbor boy broke in my house about 04:30 a.m. when I failed to be at work and was home with a house guest. I had left a model 60 loaded on my bar. The guest woke me up and said someone was out front. I didnt really believe her but pulled a s&w 1917 I kept under the mattress and went out to satisfy her.
"Karl" had my smith in his hand looking at it! He screamed, dropped the smith and ran for the door. I attempted to buffalo him with the 1917 and hit him a glancing blow as he made the door. I kicked him in the butt with my bare toe. He got outside and I yelled "I am going to shoot you after all" and shot over him out in the desert. He must have jumped 4 feet high and his feet were running in mid air. When he dug in his feet kept running and he almost fell backward but made it. It was just like a road runner cartoon! I never did call the police either time.
The overgrown kid was a kid brother of a neighborhood girl I had hired to clean house for me. I kind of think she might of had a stupid crush on me and sent over her idiot brother to see what was going on?
These storys are 50 and 40 years ago.
Arik
Member
Would I make traps? Lay out tarps? Sit and wait? No.
I would go about my business. It's done and over with. If I was at home when it happened I would defend myself but not set traps. In defending yourself do you really care about the carpet?
One more thing. In Pa it's very simple. If someone's back is to you they are not a threat
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Arik
Member
Parents have nothing to do with it. Once hormones kick in a lot of that is out the window. I know many many good kids who I grew up with who are now serving life, or close to it. The few lucky ones are dead. The last one I heard of hung himself in prison 2 years ago. He was a few years older. I'm 34 and I went to school with these kids in a rich upper class area full of very well off people. People who thought their kids right from wrong. But parents arnt there 24/7/365.
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Arik
Member
I heard of this. In early 2000s we had a case here. Naked man breaks into a house. Husband shoots the man. The man turns around and walks out of the house where upon the husband puts another 6 into his back. When asked why he said....I served in Nam and was tought to shoot till the enemy is no longer moving. He might be out of prison by now. I don't remember if he got 10 or 20 years
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amazingflapjack
US Veteran
The jury didn't get the evidence. Again-where is the background on this man that would lead anyone to say he is a sadistic murderer? Put yourself in his shoes-how would you feel-especially if you were a quiet keep to your self type person? What was his thought process after say...the second burglary? How about the 5th? what about while he was waiting for the ninth, after going through the 6th 7th and 8th. This man was the victim, and his actions as far as the recorders and plastic sheet, etc, underscore that he had been traumatized to the point where this obsessed his thoughts in his own home, every moment of his existence. Where is the expert testimony on his mental state? Oh, that's right, they couldn't introduce the "other burglary's" into evidence; what a sham. His friend was right, he is the victim here, and the statement by the "Sheriff" is an attempt to salve his own conscience. Hopefully someone will get a hold on all the facts of this case on appeal and see it tried in the light of all of the evidence, but this guy's going to have a rough road for whatever time he has left. Psychology may all be mumbo jumbo for some folks, but brain chemistry isn't, and it won't be when it is their turn to listen to everyone say what he "shoulda-coulda" done. Nuff' said.
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Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Wonder if the guy's lawyer mighta used that. Maybe he was a half bubble off because punks were breaking into his house. I know it would cause ME to lose sleep, get stressed, etc.
Not sure how I woulda handled it but videotaping? Good grief...
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