Boy who stabbed teenager caught burgling his mother's house is charged with murder

semi-pro waster · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:08

Scubascorpion said:
If the burglar died of one stab wound and the kid gets done for murder then there is something wrong, seriously wrong with our justice system.
If however the burglar was akin to a colander after said attack, then the kid deserves the book thrown at him!

Even if the burglar died of one stab wound it might still be murder, if the homeowner did not have reasonable apprehension that they were in danger or the burglar was running away etc then stabbing them is not a self defence situation and should not be treated as such. It might be understandable in many ways but it cannot and should not be condoned.

LoadsaMoney · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:10

he did wrong, as if they were coming in through the window, then he should have held it open for them to squeeze through, and also give them a hand carrying stuff out etc...

Vonhelmet · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:11

13cm wound, according to the article... What the hell did he stab him with?

Hutch · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:18

Would like a bit more information but im generally of the opinion that you forfeit your rights if you break into someones home.

Sawell · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:21

Paul11 said:
fear is a valid reason for reacting without thinking

It's an irrelevant statement, there's not a situation where your absence of thought makes you kill someone. 'I didn't think to pick up my car keys' 'I didn't think to judo chop him and drop him to the floor', not 'I didn't think to not kill him'. Primal instinct kicks in, but in even the most vicious of us it doesn't cause you to kill someone. Even in animals they will normally bite out of fear, but not a kill shot.

Orcish-Horde · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:22

vonhelmet said:
13cm wound, according to the article... What the hell did he stab him with?

It sound like he slashed him and the skinny little rat didn't have enought meat on his bones to protect them all important blood vessels. Kids shouldn't brake into houses hell slap it into him.

Von Smallhausen · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:24

Biohazard said:
First thought:

Does it matter the name of the rag, surely the charges are just the same?

It is the facts of the case that matter and the Daily Mail rarely publishes the facts without some form of biased spin.

You can't just kill two burglars for the sake of breaking in.

Calabi · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:25

Weebull said:
What, you mean other than all the actual murderers and law-breakers they convict every year?

Well except for all the murderers, pedophiles, drug barons, pimps, rapists, they've put behind bars, what have they ever done for us?

OzyOly · 27 Oct 2009 at 19:27

Paul11 said:
i think you break into someone house, you get what you get

shame he got done for murder.

Amnesia · 27 Oct 2009 at 20:23

dont know all the facts(none really

) on this story....but who wouldnt pick up a weapon if they were awoken by noises downstairs in their own home.

especially if you have other family members living with you..wife + kids.

SB118 · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:01

Von Smallhausen said:
You can't just kill two burglars for the sake of breaking in.

Pity.

SexyGreyFox · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:17

Ziggy said:
Hmmm. What do you guys think?

I think that if he has been charged and going to court there is more to the story than we know.

Glaucus · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:21

dmpoole said:
I think that if he has been charged and going to court there is more to the story than we know.

exactly. You can use reasonable force even if it's just a perceived threat. Wouldn't be surprised if he chased the burglars or stabbed them in the back or something like that.

Clum · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:38

Sawell said:
In the UK there are 0.0140633 murders per 1,000 people. I think people are forgetting the fact that murder is a resort only used by murderers. You're deliberately ending someone's life, he didn't slip on his knife and kill himself. 733,000 burglaries are committed every year in the UK, how many of which do you think involved 'immense fear'? Let alone the thousands of other circumstances (mugging, assault etc) in which an individual faces 'immense fear'.

Fear is not a valid excuse for taking life, in nearly any context. If you are threatened with your own or someone else's life in a serious manner then there are laws to protect you.

Dont agree with that one bit mate. And having a degree in forensic science i've done a little reading on the subject.

If someone comes into your house tonight and theoretically tried to stab you, are you going to block the blow with a shield made of "laws"?

In a perfect world your ideals would be just that but in the real world there are so many factors that could have influenced his decision to stab the intruders that its not even worth arguing whether it was warranted or not without knowing the relevant facts.

Glaucus · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:39

Sawell said:
Fear is not a valid excuse for taking lif

It is in uk law.

Vonhelmet · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:42

Clum said:
Dont agree with that one bit mate. If someone comes into your house tonight and theoretically tried to stab you, are you going to block the blow with a shield made of "laws"?

Indeed. Self defence is not murder if the force used is proportionate to the threat you are under.

It's killing, but it's not murder.

CaptainComedy · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:44

hehe love these threads

2 vs 1 and you wanna go in toe to toes fists a blazing lol. just lol.

there's only one person on these forums that can do that.

Hamzter · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:44

Orcish-Horde said:
It sound like he slashed him and the skinny little rat didn't have enought meat on his bones to protect them all important blood vessels. Kids shouldn't brake into houses hell slap it into him.

Says it cut vital arteries in his chest, which is protected by your ribcage, sounds like a definite stabbing rather than a slashing, it wouldn't matter how much meat you had on you, that could kill anyone.

Self defence is fine, beating the **** out of them is even ok much of the time. But ending someones life is a massive decision, I can't believe that some of you think that all burglers deserve to be shot! As far as crimes go, there are far worse.

I wonder if everyones opinions would be different if it was the 14 year old that was killed?

Vonhelmet · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:47

codec said:
hehe love these threads

2 vs 1 and you wanna go in toe to toes fists a blazing lol. just lol.

there's only one person on these forums that can do that.

Yeah, but he's busy eating his fishfinger sandwiches.

"andy" · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:50

Hamzter said:
I can't believe that some of you think that all burglers deserve to be shot! As far as crimes go, there are far worse.

this

especially when young kids and teens are often forced into burglary by older teens/adults. for example kids as young as 11 who get thrown in through windows so they can go unlock the doors etc