Tony Martin

[bekah]

Did anybody watch the Tony Martin story last night? What are your opinions on the case?

Living on a farm myself I can completely understand where he was coming from, and my partner often says if he catches anybody in the house he would do whatever he had to to remove them! I really can't understand how he was prosecuted for protecting his home. We have had trespassers on our land before, and after calling the police to be told there is nothing they can do my partner told them he would deal with them himself. The police arrived in 10 minutes, and needless to say the young drug addicts were gone, and my husband was warned not to take the law into his own hands!

Brandon Fearon camre accross as an arrogant little sh*t, who really beleived he had done no wrong being in the house, never mind not telling anybody that his 'friend' may still be at the farm. The fact that he would only tell his side if he was paid says it all

Surely every man has the right to defend his castle?

[natalie_1982]

I agree with you in that a man does have the right to defend his castle, but in that documentary last night I felt that Brandon came across as arrogant, and cocky, but Tony Martin came across as a complete and utter liar.

I have never been broken into, and would probably be a complete girl and hide or scream, but I would like to think that I would defend myself and my property and family asd much as I could, but I would not resort to using a gun (if I had one) unless they were armed too.

Were the boys carrying any weapons? I mean, the young lad, whatever he was doing at the time, had turned to run and was blown in the back. I don't think it is a cut and dried case, but Mr Martin did not strike me as being genuine or truthful.

The boys should absolutely not have been in Mr Martin's house, but Mr Martin should not have fired so many shots, and should most definitely have called the police in any event, whether he knew he had hurt somebody or not (imho).

[andy-hughes]

I can understand the fundamental urge to defend home and hearth, especially after a series of breakins, but the law and police resources need to be addressed and altered.

We live in a civilised democracy - we do not work on a basis of those with the guns, and the strong stomach to shoot another human being get to live in peace, that's just not the way it works. Defence of property is a right for all, and the failres of the law and police resources should be addressed and ammended, not 'given a helping hand' by some paranoid individual with an unlicensed firearm.

This is a thin end of a vigilante wedge - no-one appoints these 'moral guardians' who would shoot intruders - they are the mental equivalent of an unexploded bomb. What's next? Shoot the postman because he cuts across your garden? Sounds ludicrous, but that's the srot of thinking we are encouraging here.

It's mine, and I'll kill you if you try and take it away from me.

Nope, can't ever hear myself saying that, ever.

[rescuer]

I didn't see the programme but I am completely on Tony Martin's side. These two had travelled some 60 miles to steal from his house. It is certain that they knew they were doing wrong and, if they had the slightest sense, would know that in the countryside many people have shotguns.It appears also that both had a list of convictions. For sure an Englishman's home is his castle and he should be allowed to defend it by whatever means necessary.

[brionon]

I saw it and my answer is--If anyone breaks into my house it's ''No holds barred'' and if I have to go to prison, then so be it. There is an easy 'Out' for thieves, ''Stay away.''

[gessoo]

Don't believe all you hear about Tony Martin. He is not a trustworthy person and has previous convictions relating to gun crime. There is more to the whole thing than meets the eye.

Since leaving prison he has been in trouble with the police yet again. I don't think he is any better than the dreadful people that broke into his house.

[bekah]

Tony Martin did have a history of gun crime, but yet again it was for shooting at somebody trespassing on his land. Until you have been in the situation of having somebody unlawfully and suspiciously hanging around your home, I dont think you know what your reaction would be. I can assure you it is very frightening not knowing what they are planning to do and what means of defence they themselves posses. People should remember that he was not a young man, and was completely alone on an isolated farm. As Brionon said, if the robbing gets werent there in the first place, none of this would have happened, and how the defence could have called his actions 'pre-meditated murder' is beyond me. How could he possibly invisage that they were going to break in. His actions in the aftermath were that of a scared and confused man, yes he could have called the police, but as I mentioned, we have personally seen how useless the police are when responding to such calls and probably would have acted much the same.

[ceecee15]

I didn't see the programme but agree with Tony Martin 100% and anybody else that would do the same. I think if anybody has the audacity to break into someone's house, they deserve all they get. What gives them the right to enter property with no permission?

[gessoo]

He certainly did have prior knowledge that they were going to break in - they had threatened him beforehand. Why had he dismanted his stairs before the event? He had anticipated what was going to happen.

He has been made to look like a poor innocent old man who was protecting his home. Not quite the case.

I have just read an article where he says he doesn't like guns. What a load of rubbish.

He was caught last year with a vehicle full of stolen car wheels. The man is seriously unbalanced - even his mother says so. Natalie, you are right - Tony Martin has great trouble is speaking the truth.

Don't get me wrong I have no time for the people that broke into his house, but that kid did not deserve to get shot in the back.

On the issue of the defence of personal property, once more I find myself wholeheartedly agreeing with Andy Hughes.

[joko]

i get the impression tony martin is an arrogant 'survival nut' thug, dressed up as a country bumpkin.

he is shifty and clearly doesn't give a toss that he killed someone.
I agree that the kid shouldn't have been there and it was a risk he took going into someone elses house, but whether or not TM was in genuine fear for his safety (which i don't think he really believed) he has taken a life and doesn't seem to care.

you would think he would at least pretend to care but he doesn't!

most people would have called the police and stayed in their bedroom until they arrived, not sneak down the stairs with a gun and shoot them as they ran away!

why not shoot in the legs? why shoot at chest height?

why not shout down, make some noise, make them run away - he knew they were kids and would probably scarper.

and if he was so worried about burgulars, why didn't he have a burgular alarm, panic button, security lights etc etc

i think was was like sport to him "ha, got him" rather than self defence

there are just so many things both of them could have done instead.

just to add that i think the kid was a nasty little runt too and deserved a good kicking and perhaps a spell in borstal - but killed?...mmm...?

[markja]

all you bods that say the little git didn't deserve a blasting. have you heard about the teacher in london recently that was stabbed to death by the robber (that was released early from jail?) 'you rob me, i'll do you.' is how it should be. the b*stards should never be let out early and we should have a three strikes and you're out policy.

apologies to all you honest criminals i may have offended!

[gessoo]

You are so right joko.

Also, Tony Martin's so called farm was just a run down, derelict house full of rubbish - there was nothing to rob! The people that broke in knew this. He called himself a farmer but he didn't farm. There had been trouble between Tony Martin and this travelling families concerned for some time. All concerned were as bad as each other.

Tony Martin is now making a great deal of money out of this and has been made to look like a hero, a champion of the people!

[markja]

so these scumbags were actually breaking in to do a spot of tiding up?

or were they going to cause him bodily harm?

coz gessoo says they knew there was nothing to rob.

and don't say they were collecting for the church! idid that the week before, thanks for the silver and other trinkets!

[gessoo]

They were going in to cause mischief one way or another, I agree. But believe me this was two sided mischief which was going on for a while.

The killing of Fred Barras was with an illegal shotgun and had no licence. Below gives a brief insight into the type of man he was. Is this really the type of person you should be admiring?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/718129.stm

[joko]

so if it was a licensed gun it would be alright??

[coprinus00]

Pity he didn't get them all. Good on yer Tony.

[gessoo]

No, of course not Joko - but it proves that he held illegal firearms. I get so riled about this whole thing because it just shows how people are so taken in when they want to be. I find it quite frightening.

Tony Martin has got off lightly.

[patc7641]

What old Tony boy should have done, was blast the little ******* to kingdom come, then plant a couple of knives/ broken bottles on them. Made it a right stitch up. The police wouldnt have investigated it too clearly and he would have been in the clear. Regardless of his dodgy character, every man/ woman has the right to protect thier property. What if Tony had been an old lady who couldnt fight back? What might have happened then? We read about it every day, rape? murder? its just a shot away.

[gessoo]

He wasn't protecting his property - he was involved in a feud between him and the family. What I am trying to say is that he shouldn't be used as a 'good' example of someone who is wrongly convicted just because he was trying to protect his property. We do have the right to protect our property in this country. We don't have the right to hold firearms without a licence. Other people have protected their property successfully and have fatally wounded the intruders but have not been prosecuted. Why not use them as a good example? That would be too simple - not such a good story for the press or wouldn't make a good film story.

I say again, why had Tony Martin removed the bottom half of his staircase? He was expecting these intruders and had planned what he would do.

I am not in any way trying to say that protecting property is wrong. However, as I said before, I agree with Andy Hughes.

And, no, the Fred Barras didn't deserve to be shot in the back with a shot gun from a distance of 12' whilst he was trying to run away.