Cable Forum - View Single Post - Should there be a right of unlimited defence of your property?

Theodoric · 24-03-2004, 23:46

I used to think, no; even the Tony Martin case didn't seem to be a sufficient reason. But with the case of Carl Lindsay I'm beginning to change my mind. He has just been sentenced to 8 years for manslaughter for stabbing to death with a samurai sword one of 4 armed men who broke into his flat with the intention of robbing him. The jury obviously saw it otherwise but how are you supposed to react when faced by an armed gang threatening you with a firearm? Saying that you should only use reasonable force is a nonsense in a situation like that. How many people would be capable of coolly assessing the situation and using just enough force; not many I'd say.

Two things that make the case even worse are that;

1) The stabbed man managed to flee before dying, so he obviously wasn't hacked to pieces in the flat.

2) What I find incredible is that the CPS initially charged him with murder! Even the jury couldn't swallow that piece of blatant nonsense. The more I hear of the stupid and irrational antics of the CPS, the more I despair of any justice in this country.

24-03-2004, 23:46	#1
Theodoric Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London Posts: 2,974	Should there be a right of unlimited defence of your property? I used to think, no; even the Tony Martin case didn't seem to be a sufficient reason. But with the case of Carl Lindsay I'm beginning to change my mind. He has just been sentenced to 8 years for manslaughter for stabbing to death with a samurai sword one of 4 armed men who broke into his flat with the intention of robbing him. The jury obviously saw it otherwise but how are you supposed to react when faced by an armed gang threatening you with a firearm? Saying that you should only use reasonable force is a nonsense in a situation like that. How many people would be capable of coolly assessing the situation and using just enough force; not many I'd say. Two things that make the case even worse are that; 1) The stabbed man managed to flee before dying, so he obviously wasn't hacked to pieces in the flat. 2) What I find incredible is that the CPS initially charged him with murder! Even the jury couldn't swallow that piece of blatant nonsense. The more I hear of the stupid and irrational antics of the CPS, the more I despair of any justice in this country.