you wot ?

[brionon]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-106677 7/Brazilian-student-faces-GBH-charge-defending -home-serial-burglar.html

Well what do you think ?

[Lonnie]

Only in this country, disgusting isn't it, but thats what New Labour stand for.

[BertiWooster]

How does Mr Brown find time to sit as a magistrate ?

[rov1200]

Maybe we should take a note form how burglars are treated in the USA. There people are allowed to keep a gun and shoot a burglar. Here you could be prosecuted for having a baseball bat by the side of the bed. As usual more respect is given to the criminal than those attacked. I see that youth who stabbed to death that headmaster although in his twenties is now free from jail. What punishment?

[THECORBYLOON]

His sister said 'It was very dangerous. My brother didn't know if this guy was on drugs, or was going to kill him. It's unbelievable.'

'He was threatened by a man in his home, a robber who broke in and had a knife. Of course he reacted, he was defending himself'.

'The guy was outside on a bike. Andre pushed him off his bike and he fell, hitting his head on the pavement. We are praying he makes a recovery.'

If the alleged burglar was on a bike, is it not safe to say that he was no longer inside the house and no longer a threat to Mr Mergulhao so how could there be a need to defend himself?

[JockSporran]

I think you should have the right to attack an intruder as long as you don't kill them.

[Ice.Maiden]

So do I. They deserve all they get.

[THECORBYLOON]

The point I am making is that I cannot see how chasing after someone and then taking action, can be classed as self defence.

[jake-the-peg]

It will depend on how many times he hit the burglar.

If it's true that the guy was carrying a knife and he hit him once and that resulted in the injuries then I'm sure he'll be acquitted.

If however it turns out that he "went postal" and repeatedly bludgeoned the guy half to death as he lay writhing on the floor then I suspect he'll be going away.

You have the right to defend yourself - you don't have the right to inflict personal violent revenge

[brionon]

No-We ,the victims must, at all times,control our emotions. Don't let the fear and anger you experience at being invaded and robbed by someone who wants what you have worked hard to get,influence you. Treat the theif gently-you have No right to lose it. Balderdash !!

[THECORBYLOON]

The sister was saying her brother knocked the alleged burglar off a bike and that's why he hit his head. How is that self defence?

[jake-the-peg]

Oh so if someone burgles my house I should be able to kill him in revenge should I?

Can I tie him up and torture him first?

My fear is sufficient justification?

How far does your self-righteous justice go?

Even the Old Testament only says "An eye for an eye"

Maybe I should be allowed in my fear and anger to drive around to his house and torch it too!

Your anger and fear and emotions are what differentiates lynching from justice.

And you have the cheek to say balderdash!

[brionon]

I knocked a bloke off his bike,once. He had annoyed my wife. He didn't die but does that make me a guilty Perp ?

[THECORBYLOON]

What do you mean by annoy?

[tigerlily11]

The attitude of the authorities reminds me of a scene from the film L A Story.
Steve Martin is in a cue at an atm machine drawing money. and right next to it is another cue of muggers. When Steve gets to the machine the next guy in the other line introduces himself and says 'I'll be your mugger for this evening.'
Maybe thats where were going to end up.
On finding a burgler in your house you should ask if he has a goverment card to say who he is and if not then you can phone a department number while he ransacks your home.
If he has the requiered card then you can offer him tea or coffee while he carrys out the burglary.

[jake-the-peg]

Sorry?

Someone upset your wife so you assaulted him and knocked him off his bike?

Yes. It damn well does!

I think you ought to consider some anger management.

You're pretty lucky there wasn't a passing policeman

[jake-the-peg]

Oh Tigerliilly I think you're deliberately missing the point.

You have every right to defend yourself - nobody disputes that.

If that is what happened here there will be no further action.


You have no right to administer your personal justice on someone you have already subdued

Getting burgled does not give you the right to act as judge jury and executioner that is not justice that is lynching

[THECORBYLOON]

There is a whole world of difference between defending yirsel in the heat of the moment and acting in a premeditated manner. If I seen a burglar in ma house and thought I was in danger, I may reach for the nearest heavy or sharp object to strike him. If, however, I went ben the house and searched for the carving knife or looked for a hammer and THEN struck him that is not self defence. That could be the difference between a manslaughter and a murder charge.

[brionon]

CORBYLOON -http://aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/dictiona ry/annoy.

Jake-are you Gay ?

[THECORBYLOON]

brionon you would not have got very far in a court of law wi that relpy to ma question and you have just lost the argument when you have to resort to questions like "Are you gay?" What the hell has that got to do wi the subject?

[China Doll]

A girl once went for my sister in a bar for no apparent reason other than she was talkiing to a lad she was interested in. I happened to be in the way and as a reaction I reached out and grabbed the girl and pinnedher against the wall and suggested she quite quickly adjust her attitude. This happened in a matter of seconds and the suprise, discomfort and shock of the girl intendiing to be in one place and finding herself in another seemed sufficient to bring her back to earth. (Well that and being faced with an unusually angry CD in big sister mode). She walked away muttering and swearing and my sister and I went back to our group of friends. To me this is an act of defence as I was stopping my sister getting lumped.

Had I pinned the girl to the wall and repeatedly hit her in the face while warning her to stay away from my sister I think there would be rather a lot of grounds to call me a thug and have me up on charges as it would be something of an over reaction.

I think this is a candid example from experience of defence and heavy handed violence. Surfice to say I agree with Jake and TCL.