I'm glad I don' Live in England

[jhnttrpp]

A man Is attacked in his home, in his kitchen by a burglar with a screwdriver. He grabs a knife and fights the burglar off, stabbing him. The burglar runs out of the house collapses and dies. The homeowner called the police The homeowner is in jail charged with murder. This was on the BBC's website.
Hither Green 'burglar' stabbing: Man, 78, arrested - BBC News

 

[Jeppo]

That's just crazy!

 

[jhnttrpp]

That's just crazy!

Yes. I was just blown away by it and wondered, "Is this where America is headed"

 

[Jeppo]

Maybe the Castle Doctrine applies only to actual castles.

 

[TTSH]

It's got to be a joke, right? Fake news, right?

 

[JohnK]

This incident is all too common.

England gives the normal citizen, NO rights for self defense.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

It's got to be a joke, right? Fake news, right?

Doesn't sound like it...here's another link.

Homeowner, 78, arrested after '''burglar''', 38, stabbed to death with screwdriver

Tony Martin faced the same fate many years ago. He used a gun for self defense. Here is his story:

Tony Martin case: background | UK news | The Guardian

 

[blues7]

Beyond sad. To think that the country which gave us the Magna Carta and the common law has plummeted to these depths.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Yes. I was just blown away by it and wondered, "Is this where America is headed"

Yes, I think it is. Just a matter of time. All our school children
and college kids are indoctrinated from preschool by liberals
teaching antigun, participation awards, peace, love etc.
Just look at the culture in colleges. A conservative can't even
speak at most colleges. These people grow up to vote.
Add those to current liberal antigun crown and the future doesn't
look bright. In coming years, more liberal judges, supreme court
flips and gun rights are gone. Just a matter of time. You have
no real 2nd amendment in California, New York, New Jersey ,etc
now. It will spread. How do you eat an elephant? One bite
at a time.

 

[grover99]

Just read where London has a higher murder rate than New York city.
Take away the guns and people just find a another way to kill each other.

 

[BC38]

My question is, when it is a clear case of self defense do people actually get convicted of a crime for protecting themselves? I don't agree with the verdict in the Tony Martin case as presented in the link above, but I can understand how the prosecution made the case that he didn't have to shoot the burglar to save his own life since he apparently advanced on the burglar before shooting and killing him.

But when the dead miscreant has actually wounded the homeowner before being killed, I can see the homeowner being charged - until the investigators can sort out what actually happened - but once it is established that the homeowner was actually defending themselves do they still get convicted? Are their laws really THAT backwards?

 

[richbuff]

Maybe the British government expects him to fight off the screwdriver wielding attacker in the kitchen with a dirty sink sponge, thus causing the attacker to succumb to flesh-eating bacteria.

 

[ContinentalOp]

My question is, when it is a clear case of self defense do people actually get convicted of a crime for protecting themselves?

From what I've read, no, they generally don't get convicted. However, it's still horrible to be accused of murder after being forced to defend oneself, not to mention the potential costs of defending oneself in court.

I seem to recall one incident where the homeowner was charged with striking the burglar/home invader with a cricket bat. I don't know what happened afterwards.

And I'm sure there are exceptions.

I also recall reading somewhere that the only self defense tool legal in England is a personal alarm.

 

[REM 3200]

Yes, I think it is. Just a matter of time. All our school children
and college kids are indoctrinated from preschool by liberals
teaching antigun, participation awards, peace, love etc.
Just look at the culture in colleges. A conservative can't even
speak at most colleges. These people grow up to vote.
Add those to current liberal antigun crown and the future doesn't
look bright. In coming years, more liberal judges, supreme court
flips and gun rights are gone. Just a matter of time. You have
no real 2nd amendment in California, New York, New Jersey ,etc
now. It will spread. How do you eat an elephant? One bite
at a time.

I think you nailed it with your post. A really sad state of affairs for our once was great country.

 

[robertrwalsh]

In the UK you do not necessarily have the right to protect yourself. You should allow yourself to be murdered and then hope that the cops catch the bad guy.

 

[jhnttrpp]

My question is, when it is a clear case of self defense do people actually get convicted of a crime for protecting themselves? I don't agree with the verdict in the Tony Martin case as presented in the link above, but I can understand how the prosecution made the case that he didn't have to shoot the burglar to save his own life since he apparently advanced on the burglar before shooting and killing him.

But when the dead miscreant has actually wounded the homeowner before being killed, I can see the homeowner being charged - until the investigators can sort out what actually happened - but once it is established that the homeowner was actually defending themselves do they still get convicted? Are their laws really THAT backwards?

Why is it ok to charge someone with a crime until the investigators sort it out. Where did the presumption of innocence go.

 

[Kurusu]

It's got to be a joke, right? Fake news, right?

You wish.

 

[Kurusu]

Beyond sad. To think that the country which gave us the Magna Carta and the common law has plummeted to these depths.

You got to remember this. The Magna Carta wasn't given the same way your Independece wasn't given either.

There are no free lunches.

 

[Hithev]

London's monthly murder rate has overtaken that of New York City

London murder rate higher than New York as police investigate 31st stabbing in capital this year

handguns ban notwisthstanding...

 

[TomkinsSP]

My question is, when it is a clear case of self defense do people actually get convicted of a crime for protecting themselves? I don't agree with the verdict in the Tony Martin case as presented in the link above, but I can understand how the prosecution made the case that he didn't have to shoot the burglar to save his own life since he apparently advanced on the burglar before shooting and killing him.

But when the dead miscreant has actually wounded the homeowner before being killed, I can see the homeowner being charged - until the investigators can sort out what actually happened - but once it is established that the homeowner was actually defending themselves do they still get convicted? Are their laws really THAT backwards?

One thing that gave me comfort as a Police Officer was that someone outside the Department would (hopefully) examine the evidence presented by the Investigation BEFORE a citizen was CHARGED with a crime. Oh well, BEFORE sentencing I guess in MOE.