Excellent result by the CPS for once

Johnny Girth · 27 Feb 2008 at 11:58

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7266555.stm

Killed the armed robber in self defence and not being charged with murder.

What a good result!

Lowe · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:00

Agreed - fair play to the bloke for sticking up for himself, and sticking that toerag in the process!

randal · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:05

2 "whole life" terms and a sensible judgement, things are looking up for the UK's legal system this week indeed.

yipyipboo · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:30

wow, thats does make a change. I bet he had a sweat on though waiting for the decision.

Beren · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:48

Didn't think this was that unusual. Sounds like a good decision though.

Monkey Puzzle · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:54

Good decision, though it's fairly clear cut (no pun intended) if the guy is a convicted armed robber threatening you with a knife.

schumi84 · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:57

Definitely the way it should be. As already said, at last we are making a correct decision for once.

[DOD]Asprilla · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:59

Beren said:
Didn't think this was that unusual. Sounds like a good decision though.

It's not unusual, it's just that prosecutions for self defence grab more headlines than situations like this.

neoboy · 27 Feb 2008 at 12:59

Not long before relatives try to press manslaughter charges?

scorza · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:15

Shame the police didn't show similar common sense - why exactly did they feel the need to arrest the shopkeeper?

Lysander · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:17

Not too surprising is it? Self defence is a complete defence, therefore you're likely to get off scot free if it's proven.

Slinwagh · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:17

scorza said:
Shame the police didn't show similar common sense - why exactly did they feel the need to arrest the shopkeeper?

When the police arrive they have to establish the facts, all of the facts are not always available at the time of arrest.

scorza · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:30

Slinwagh said:
When the police arrive they have to establish the facts, all of the facts are not always available at the time of arrest.

Did they have to arrest him though? From my limited knowledge of police procedures (mainly from The Bill lol) couldn't he have been told to make a statement at the station? or the old "helping police with their enquiries"? And if it's become clear during the course of the investigation it was self defence, why couldn't the police just have released him? AFAIK the case only goes to the CPS if the police think he should be charged.

aeT · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:31

Correct Decision. WP.

[DOD]Asprilla · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:36

scorza said:
Snip.

Until the facts are known then arresting someone (even if they are to be bailed) is the best way of dealing with a suspect in what is potentially the most serious of crimes.

Slinwagh · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:39

scorza said:
Did they have to arrest him though? From my limited knowledge of police procedures (mainly from The Bill lol) couldn't he have been told to make a statement at the station? or the old "helping police with their enquiries"? And if it's become clear during the course of the investigation it was self defence, why couldn't the police just have released him? AFAIK the case only goes to the CPS if the police think he should be charged.

A man was killed, this would be the only way to really deal with the incident.

DarkShadow · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:41

This is how it should be, well played

scorza · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:46

Slinwagh said:
A man was killed, this would be the only way to really deal with the incident.

So the message is that if you use reasonable force in self-defence you may face serious criminal charges against you? No wonder this country is in such a state...

neoboy · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:49

scorza said:
So the message is that if you use reasonable force in self-defence you may face serious criminal charges against you? No wonder this country is in such a state...

Erm if I was a policemanan who just pulled up and see one guy covered in blood (apparently Mr Singh did sustain some injuries to the back and neck so I can imagine blood being on him) and then see another guy dead on the ground I know what I would do. They arrested him to simply find out what happened for all they know he just stabbed the other guy and playing the self defense game.

Dolph · 27 Feb 2008 at 13:49

scorza said:
So the message is that if you use reasonable force in self-defence you may face serious criminal charges against you? No wonder this country is in such a state...

Only the investigation can determine whether charges are appropriate, otherwise everyone would be claiming self defence.

Most true self defence cases rarely result in charges or conviction anyway, it's the ones where there was no defence involved (eg Tony Martin) that get punished, not the genuine ones.

Excellent result by the CPS for once

Capodecina