I'm going to go as far as saying it is widely understood around the world that anyone knowingly entering someone else's property without invitation with sole intent to steal, kidnap or vandalize must be aware of the consequences, including loosing life.
There is no burglary situation where a person awaken or walking in on burglars should be expected to have mental ability and character strength to interview uninvited guests as to their intentions.
- "Hello good gentlemen, I'm the proprietor of this fine household, how may I be of service"
- "Good morning sire, we are visiting your fine mansion in search of milk and fresh produce"
- "Please take the apples from kitchen table and leave immediately, or I will have no choice but to conclude this visit caused me a lot of upset" .
It just never plays out this way. There is no opportunity for chat, or clarification. Whatever their intentions were, the moment they step into your house, you, the owner of the house, have full right to presume THE WORST.
You have a right to presume this might end in the worst possible scenario.
These people might be there to do harm to you, your family, unless the burglars have opportunity to make it absolutely clear they just want to sit down for tea, cookies and a bit of Friends reruns on E4, for all you know they are there to go Charles Manson crew on your arse. And if a life is lost, it's not because of your intent to kill someone that night, but because stupidity of a 14 year old and his 19 year old buddy. I don't care what the law says. Bad law is no law at all.
They wouldn't let them continue if they were robbing bank, and by simple extension, anyone incapacitated permanently while burgling your property should be always treated as an accident - as self defence.
