Someone breaks into your house....

[Kerry]

You defend yourself. They die

Should you be punished? Go to jail?

Should you have to pay their family compensation?

(and yes, just seen a programme on the Tony Martin case)

Me - no, no and no. If someone breaks into my house, I and my family are at risk. I'll do whatever it takes to defend that.

Compensation - go whistle.

[Ramsay]

no

[MTVN]

Generally, no. I believe in private property rights really and, by extension, the right to defend your property. Although if you catch someone and they try to run away you dont have the right to chase them down or take them down and kick them to death or anything like that

[Zippy]

generally no.

but each case is different. Cant just catch a burglar and kill him!

comes down to reasonable force.

[Tom.]

Most of the time, if someone breaks into your house and the property owner catches them in the act, they'll run away

I believe people should be able to defend themselves, but you can defend yourself without killing someone. It should only really result in death if such a force has been used against you

You'll only probably end up serving 5 or 6 years anyway

[Stacey.]

No to the first two questions. I don't know what compensation means though. hehe.

[Vicky.]

Nah, They broke in they should take the consequences.

I hate the 'reasonable force' rule in general. Yeah...a random stranger attacks you...you are sure to think 'oh I shouldnt hit him my hardest incase it hurts them too much' or whatever :bored:

[Zippy]

I believe people should be able to defend themselves, but you can defend yourself without killing someone. It should only really result in death if such a force has been used against you

problem is that in the heat of the moment its hard to determine reasonable force. To stop them hurting you they need to be stopped. Ideally you'd just knock them unconscious. But that could easily also knock them dead.

[Kerry]

No to the first two questions. I don't know what compensation means though. hehe.

You'd have to pay the family money for their loss/grief etc. in short. Thousands usually

[Tom.]

Nah, They broke in they should take the consequences.

I hate the 'reasonable force' rule in general. Yeah...a random stranger attacks you...you are sure to think 'oh I shouldnt hit him my hardest incase it hurts them too much' or whatever :bored:

Reasonable force is a like for like thing. If they punch you, punch them back, don't run at them with a knife or something. Thats all it means

[Jordan.]

Depends, if the burglar came at you with an intention to kill you I think its fair to put it down as self defense and you shouldn't be punished.

However I don't think it'd be right just to kill the burglar just for being on your property before attempting to restrain or warn them off. If they then turn around and attack you fair do's.

[Kerry]

Reasonable force to me is, if someones on my landing, it's dark and they shouldn't be there, whatever is in my hand gets wrapped around their head.

They should NOT be there.

ETA - If they're running away no I wouldn't attack them

[_Seth]

Generally, no. I believe in private property rights really and, by extension, the right to defend your property. Although if you catch someone and they try to run away you dont have the right to chase them down or take them down and kick them to death or anything like that

This.

[Zippy]

Nah, They broke in they should take the consequences.

I hate the 'reasonable force' rule in general. Yeah...a random stranger attacks you...you are sure to think 'oh I shouldnt hit him my hardest incase it hurts them too much' or whatever :bored:

but the OP doesnt say they attacked you first. I think if they did then you would probably get away with killing them in self defence.

I think in the Tony Martin case he shot them when they were in retreat. Thats why he was done for manslaughter.

[Vicky.]

Reasonable force is a like for like thing. If they punch you, punch them back, don't run at them with a knife or something. Thats all it means

Not quite. I was locked up for using too much force on some bitch who attacked me in the town. Just because she was bleeding/bruised more than me :bored:

[joeysteele]

Generally, no. I believe in private property rights really and, by extension, the right to defend your property. Although if you catch someone and they try to run away you dont have the right to chase them down or take them down and kick them to death or anything like that


I agree with this view too.

[Vicky.]

but the OP doesnt say they attacked you first. I think if they did then you would probably get away with killing them in self defence.

I think in the Tony Martin case he shot them when they were in retreat. Thats why he was done for manslaughter.

Might seem harsh, but Im still kinda of the opinion that they shouldnt be breaking in so they deserve whatever they get :/

Edit. And I know nothing of this tony martin thing either, should read more news :p

[Zippy]

Might seem harsh, but Im still kinda of the opinion that they shouldnt be breaking in so they deserve whatever they get :/

Edit. And I know nothing of this tony martin thing either, should read more news :p

wiki

In 1999, Martin, a bachelor, was living alone at his farmhouse in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, nicknamed Bleak House, which he inherited at age 35 from his uncle.[2] He claimed to have been burgled a total of ten times, losing £6,000 worth of furniture. Martin also complained about police inaction over the burglaries. The police reports state that multiple items and furniture were stolen such as dinner ware and a grandfather clock.[citation needed]

On the night of 20 August 1999, two burglars – Brendon Fearon, 29, and Fred Barras, 16 – broke into Bleak House.[3] When confronted, they attempted to flee through a window. Shooting downwards in the dark, with a pump-action Winchester shotgun he owned illegally, Martin shot towards the intruders. Fearon was hit in the leg, and Barras in the back. Barras escaped through the window but died at the scene.[1]

On 10 January 2000, Fearon and Darren Bark, 33 (who had acted as the getaway driver), both from Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, admitted to conspiring to burgle Martin's farmhouse. Fearon was sentenced to three years in prison, and Bark to 30 months [3] (with an additional 12 months arising from previous offences). Fearon was released on 10 August 2001.[3] Fred Barras, the dead youth, had accumulated a lengthy criminal record, having been arrested 29 times by the time of his death at the age of 16, and had been sentenced to two months in a young offenders' institution for assaulting a policeman, theft and being drunk and disorderly. On the night he was killed, the teenager had just been released on bail after being accused of stealing garden furniture. Barras' grandmother, Mary Dolan, stated: "It's not fair that the farmer has got all the money and he is the one that took Fred away.[4]

[Vicky.]

wiki

In 1999, Martin, a bachelor, was living alone at his farmhouse in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, nicknamed Bleak House, which he inherited at age 35 from his uncle.[2] He claimed to have been burgled a total of ten times, losing £6,000 worth of furniture. Martin also complained about police inaction over the burglaries. The police reports state that multiple items and furniture were stolen such as dinner ware and a grandfather clock.[citation needed]

On the night of 20 August 1999, two burglars – Brendon Fearon, 29, and Fred Barras, 16 – broke into Bleak House.[3] When confronted, they attempted to flee through a window. Shooting downwards in the dark, with a pump-action Winchester shotgun he owned illegally, Martin shot towards the intruders. Fearon was hit in the leg, and Barras in the back. Barras escaped through the window but died at the scene.[1]

On 10 January 2000, Fearon and Darren Bark, 33 (who had acted as the getaway driver), both from Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, admitted to conspiring to burgle Martin's farmhouse. Fearon was sentenced to three years in prison, and Bark to 30 months [3] (with an additional 12 months arising from previous offences). Fearon was released on 10 August 2001.[3] Fred Barras, the dead youth, had accumulated a lengthy criminal record, having been arrested 29 times by the time of his death at the age of 16, and had been sentenced to two months in a young offenders' institution for assaulting a policeman, theft and being drunk and disorderly. On the night he was killed, the teenager had just been released on bail after being accused of stealing garden furniture. Barras' grandmother, Mary Dolan, stated: "It's not fair that the farmer has got all the money and he is the one that took Fred away.[4]
This is a huge problem IMO. And part of the reason some take the law into their own hands(rightly or wrongly)

Basically, police are useless and all they seem to care about is keeping the paperwork up :/

[Zippy]

I think its shocking how burglaries are not taken all that seriously. That 16yr old who died was arrested 29 times before his death yet only had done 2 months in detention!

Invading somebodies home should have huge consequences I think.

[Vicky.]

I think its shocking how burglaries are not taken all that seriously. That 16yr old who died was arrested 29 times before his death yet only had done 2 months in detention!

Invading somebodies home should have huge consequences I think.
Well it seems it does...if you break into the right house :laugh:

[Tom.]

This is a huge problem IMO. And part of the reason some take the law into their own hands(rightly or wrongly)

Basically, police are useless and all they seem to care about is keeping the paperwork up :/

The police can't do everything though and its unlikely he'd have had a description of who had robbed him, so obviously the police physically can't do anything. In that case the owner should have upped the security measures more effectively or even moved out, especially when it gets to 10 times and a loss of £6k.

If he owned a shotgun illegally and used it, then he deserves everything he gets, burglary or no burglary.

[Zippy]

The police can't do everything though and its unlikely he'd have had a description of who had robbed him, so obviously the police physically can't do anything. In that case the owner should have upped the security measures more effectively or even moved out, especially when it gets to 10 times and a loss of £6k.

If he owned a shotgun illegally and used it, then he deserves everything he gets, burglary or no burglary.

sorry but thats ridiculous!

he was just minding his own business in his own home ffs. He's the victim here, cearly. And who can blame him for having a gun after being invaded that many times without any protection from the police? he was probably scared witless by the time of the shootings.

Free Tony Martin!! Oh wait, he's already out...

[Vicky.]

sorry but thats ridiculous!

he was just minding his own business in his own home ffs. He's the victim here, cearly. And who can blame him for having a gun after being invaded that many times without any protection from the police? he was probably scared witless by the time of the shootings.

Free Tony Martin!! Oh wait, he's already out...

I was going to say that but couldnt think of a way of putting it.

I hate this kinda...put the blame on the victim for not doing enough mentality.. so much :S

And as the upping security in his home thing...he did that, he got a shotgun...

[Tom.]

sorry but thats ridiculous!

he was just minding his own business in his own home ffs. He's the victim here, cearly. And who can blame him for having a gun after being invaded that many times without any protection from the police? he was probably scared witless by the time of the shootings.

Free Tony Martin!! Oh wait, he's already out...

I'm not disputing that he's the victim, but he's not exactly squeaky clean himself. 3 years in prison isn't bad for a firearms offence.

I was going to say that but couldnt think of a way of putting it.

I hate this kinda...put the blame on the victim for not doing enough mentality.. so much :S

And as the upping security in his home thing...he did that, he got a shotgun...

Maybe he should have bought better windows and doors, some cameras, an alarm etc like the rest of us do

[Vicky.]

Maybe he should have bought better windows and doors, some cameras, an alarm etc like the rest of us do

Yeah, if they want to be in, better windows etc will not stop them :/

[Vicky.]

On a side note, when I was at school, my mates mother used to keep a machete behind the gas box at the bottom of the stairs...incase someone broke in :o

[Tom.]

Yeah, if they want to be in, better windows etc will not stop them :/

Stick bars on the windows then so they cant get in

[Zippy]

Maybe he should have bought better windows and doors, some cameras, an alarm etc like the rest of us do

Ive never bought any of those things. So apparently I deserve to be burgalled. By your logic.

And it got even more ridiculous when one of the burglars, Fearon, went on to sue him....OMFG the nerve;

During 2003, Fearon applied for, and received, an estimated £5,000 of legal aid to sue Martin for loss of earnings due to the injuries he had sustained.[13] However, the case was thrown into doubt when photographs were published in The Sun, showing him "cycling and climbing with little apparent difficulty" suggesting that Fearon's injuries were not as serious as had been claimed.[14] While the case was pending, Fearon was recalled to jail after being charged with the theft of a vehicle while on probation on a conviction for dealing heroin.[15] Fearon later dropped the case when Martin agreed to drop a counter-claim. Tens of thousands of pounds of public money had been spent on the case.[16]

[Vicky.]

Stick bars on the windows then so they cant get in

LOL. Yeah, because everyone wants to live in a prison :D

You shouldnt have to put bars on the windows just to keep dickheads who cant be bothered earning their own stuff out.

[Tom.]

Ive never bought any of those things. So apparently I deserve to be burgalled. By your logic.

Have you been burgled 10 times and suffered £6k in losses? And have you bought a shot gun to update your home security? Unless you've done that then no you don't deserve to get robbed by my logic, because you're just twisting what I'm saying.

LOL. Yeah, because everyone wants to live in a prison :D

You shouldnt have to put bars on the windows just to keep dickheads who cant be bothered earning their own stuff out.

If he wanted to stay in the house then maybe he should have. Who else would stay in a house after being robbed that much?

[Vicky.]

Ive never bought any of those things. So apparently I deserve to be burgalled. By your logic.

And it got even more ridiculous when one of the burglars, Fearon, went on to sue him....OMFG the nerve;

During 2003, Fearon applied for, and received, an estimated £5,000 of legal aid to sue Martin for loss of earnings due to the injuries he had sustained.[13] However, the case was thrown into doubt when photographs were published in The Sun, showing him "cycling and climbing with little apparent difficulty" suggesting that Fearon's injuries were not as serious as had been claimed.[14] While the case was pending, Fearon was recalled to jail after being charged with the theft of a vehicle while on probation on a conviction for dealing heroin.[15] Fearon later dropped the case when Martin agreed to drop a counter-claim. Tens of thousands of pounds of public money had been spent on the case.[16]

Awww bless him. Could he not climb in windows anymore? :laugh:

[MTVN]

Have you been burgled 10 times and suffered £6k in losses? And have you bought a shot gun to update your home security? Unless you've done that then no you don't deserve to get robbed by my logic, because you're just twisting what I'm saying.



If he wanted to stay in the house then maybe he should have. Who else would stay in a house after being robbed that much?

He shouldnt have to do any of that though, it's not his responsibility to go out of his way and spend a fortune because someone invades his property.

[Zippy]

He lived in a run down secluded farm house he inherited. Pretty much impossible to make burglar proof especially as he didnt seem to have much money.

He never fired a shot in the first 9 burglaries so I think its ridiculous to blame him. The public would certainly be on his side. And clogging up prisons with people defending their homes against hardcore criminals(which they certainly were) is just ridiculous. meanwhile those burglars are out robbing more homes.

[Kerry]

Ive never bought any of those things. So apparently I deserve to be burgalled. By your logic.

And it got even more ridiculous when one of the burglars, Fearon, went on to sue him....OMFG the nerve;

During 2003, Fearon applied for, and received, an estimated £5,000 of legal aid to sue Martin for loss of earnings due to the injuries he had sustained.[13] However, the case was thrown into doubt when photographs were published in The Sun, showing him "cycling and climbing with little apparent difficulty" suggesting that Fearon's injuries were not as serious as had been claimed.[14] While the case was pending, Fearon was recalled to jail after being charged with the theft of a vehicle while on probation on a conviction for dealing heroin.[15] Fearon later dropped the case when Martin agreed to drop a counter-claim. Tens of thousands of pounds of public money had been spent on the case.[16]

He got asked if he wanted an input on the show I watched on ITV about Tony Martin. He said he'd appear for a fee. ITV told him to eff off

[Tom.]

He shouldnt have to do any of that though, it's not his responsibility to go out of his way and spend a fortune because someone invades his property.

Of course its the home owners responsibility to make sure your house has good security and to update it where necessary. Ideally you should be able to leave your front and back doors open without anyone coming in but thats never going to happen. Its your responsibility to make sure your house is secure.

[Vicky.]

Of course its the home owners responsibility to make sure your house has good security and to update it where necessary. Ideally you should be able to leave your front and back doors open without anyone coming in but thats never going to happen. Its your responsibility to make sure your house is secure.

So basically, unless we all have super security systems and bars on our windows, we deserve for some lowlife to break in and steal our stuff. Nice.

[Zippy]

Have you been burgled 10 times and suffered £6k in losses? And have you bought a shot gun to update your home security? Unless you've done that then no you don't deserve to get robbed by my logic, because you're just twisting what I'm saying.

If I was in his position and was his age then yes I probably would buy a gun! Damn straight. I think youre underestimating how utterly stressed out and scared he was by the point. Never mind his property, he probably feared for his own life.

And he didnt leave his doors and windows open. thats all any household should need to do to be sensible. Your logic is twisted. They broke into his home ffs!

[GypsyGoth]

Might seem harsh, but Im still kinda of the opinion that they shouldnt be breaking in so they deserve whatever they get :/


I agree totally.

[Tom.]

So basically, unless we all have super security systems and bars on our windows, we deserve for some lowlife to break in and steal our stuff. Nice.

I'm not saying that at all, noone deserves to be broken into but if you don't maintain or improve your security then its going to happen sooner or later. You'll always maintain or improve fire alarms etc so its just the same kind of thing. If you repeatedly get broken into and haven't done anything about it then maybe its time to do something. Its like fat people wondering why they aren't losing weight whilst eating KFC

[Vicky.]

And he didnt leave his doors and windows open. thats all any household should need to do to be sensible. Your logic is twisted. They broke into his home ffs!

Yeah, if he had left his windows and doors open...then I could agree that it was his fault (even though I have forgot to lock my own door sometimes for whole nights, and would still have been pissed if Id got burgled :laugh: )

However, its not like that D:

[MTVN]

Of course its the home owners responsibility to make sure your house has good security and to update it where necessary. Ideally you should be able to leave your front and back doors open without anyone coming in but thats never going to happen. Its your responsibility to make sure your house is secure.

You can leave your doors unlocked and your windows wide open, it's still a crime to trespass on someone else's property, and not having expensive security system doesnt mitigate that. Either you have the right to defend your property or you dont, you dont have less of a right to do so because you cant afford to make your house as secure as you might like

[Vicky.]

I'm not saying that at all, noone deserves to be broken into but if you don't maintain or improve your security then its going to happen sooner or later. You'll always maintain or improve fire alarms etc so its just the same kind of thing. If you repeatedly get broken into and haven't done anything about it then maybe its time to do something. Its like fat people wondering why they aren't losing weight whilst eating KFC

And what if you cant afford to 'do something about it'? Not everyone can afford to go out and upgrade their whole house, especially after a burglary.

Surely locking your windows and doors should be enough security. And if it happens again and again, the police should have done something. As it happens, he got no help, so took his own security measures.

And I bet hes had no breakins since then. And other people were saved from having breakins because one of the hardcore burglars died. So it clearly worked.

[Tom.]

You can leave your doors unlocked and your windows wide open, it's still a crime to trespass on someone else's property, and not having expensive security system doesnt mitigate that. Either you have the right to defend your property or you dont, you dont have less of a right to do so because you cant afford to make your house as secure as you might like

Its also illegal to shoot and kill someone. But that aside, defending your home doesn't have to be standing there with a shot gun, it can be as simple as locking your door. Having poor security is going to lead to burglaries, like it or not.

And what if you cant afford to 'do something about it'? Not everyone can afford to go out and upgrade their whole house, especially after a burglary.

Surely locking your windows and doors should be enough security. And if it happens again and again, the police should have done something. As it happens, he got no help, so took his own security measures.

And I bet hes had no breakins since then. And other people were saved from having breakins because one of the hardcore burglars died. So it clearly worked.

Some house insurers help you with security measures after break ins, and obviously there are other means and ways of affording it. If you can't raise the funds in any way at all then you shouldn't be a home owner really.

What would you suggest the police do? There isn't much they can do.

[Zippy]

And other people were saved from having breakins because one of the hardcore burglars died. So it clearly worked.

Thats actually a real truth. Although its sad that a 16 yr old died. But his death has spared dozens if not hundreds of potential victims. Peoples life can be devastated when they get invaded. they cant sleep in their own homes and dont feel safe anymore. many even have to move home to find peace.

he'd have done his community a huge favour by killing all 3 of the thieving scumbags. Truth is, theyre worthless trash who will always be a menace to society. Just look at their criminal records!

*feels right wing*

[Vicky.]

Some house insurers help you with security measures after break ins, and obviously there are other means and ways of affording it. If you can't raise the funds in any way at all then you shouldn't be a home owner really.

What would you suggest the police do? There isn't much they can do.

Umm yeah, I'm really just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

I dont think its right in any way to blame the victim for the crime

A different example of how your views have come across(to me) in this thread...a pretty woman is raped a few times by different people. She should just stop wearing makeup and cover herself up constantly etc....otherwise its her own fault for not changing the things that are making people commit the crime. See how absurd that sounds? A different crime, but the same logic.

I do not blame him for taking the law into his own hands. As clearly nothing was going to stop.

And I also feel this is going in circles :joker:

[Tom.]

Umm yeah, I'm really just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

I dont think its right in any way to blame the victim for the crime. And do not blame him for taking the law into his own hands.

And I also feel this is going in circles :joker:

Is that just your way of admitting you don't know what the police could do?

In general I wouldn't blame the victim for the crime, everyone deserves to be safe in their own home and shouldn't be burgled. But he definitely wasn't helping himself. Also he was given a 5 year prison sentence and served three- exactly the minimum sentence given for illegal posession of firearms. Coincidence?

Any other normal person would've just moved house after the third or fourth time.

[Kerry]

Wether you have a shotgun or a remote control in your hand to lamp someone with, the truth is, they shouldn't be on your property and you have every right to defend it. If they die ... well they shouldn't have been there

Another thing that makes me laugh (I say laugh in the loosest term.....) is when kids, for example, break into a school or garage or whatever. Basically tresspassing. Then if they fall through the roof they expect compensation if they break a limb. What?!?!?!

[Vicky.]

Is that just your way of admitting you don't know what the police could do?

In general I wouldn't blame the victim for the crime, everyone deserves to be safe in their own home and shouldn't be burgled. But he definitely wasn't helping himself. Also he was given a 5 year prison sentence and served three- exactly the minimum sentence given for illegal posession of firearms. Coincidence?

Any other normal person would've just moved house after the third or fourth time.
And they should have to do that why?

And the police could have maybe...took fingerprints, maybe made night patrols near his house to try and catch them out, helped him upgrade his security....a few things to help

It was not me admitting I didnt know what they could do, it was me giving up in frustration because I really cant understand your logic....hence my slightly offtopic attempt at a comparison above.

[Zippy]

Is that just your way of admitting you don't know what the police could do?

Do you seriously think the police didnt know who was committing these burglaries? That community wasn't huge and those involved had massive criminal records(the kid who was killed had 29 arrests!). yet you dont think the police had them down as suspects for all these burglaries?

All burglars leave their trademark evidence behind. truth is, the police and judicial system were doing ****** ALL to protect him from these known scumbags. Thats the real issue here. he wasnt getting any back up or help. After that many burglaries the police should be mounting cameras and doing covert missions to capture the crims menacing him and his home. These were hardcore crims who needed to be locked up not just to protect Tony Martin but tons of other taxpaying victims.

get this, thats what the police are paid to do!

[letmein]

If someone breaks into your home, it's your private property, thus you should be allowed to do anything necessary to defend yourself. The perp is asking for trouble. The UK is such a backwards pansy ass place. Get some balls, people! Trash deserves to be taken out!

[RichardG]

No, I believe that the minute they step into your house then they should lose all of their rights. I mean, yeah, you can't go overboard and start torturing the burgler for hours or anything like that but if you was to hit them to defend yourself and/or your family from the burgler and he happened to die then thats tough luck for the burgler. He shouldn't have stepped into your house in the first place so no one can complain if he was to get seriously injured or die.

[Livia]

If someone breaks into your home, it's your private property, thus you should be allowed to do anything necessary to defend yourself. The perp is asking for trouble. The UK is such a backwards pansy ass place. Get some balls, people! Trash deserves to be taken out!

Pansy-ass? This from a country with gun laws so archaic and ill-regulated that more pre-school kids died in the USA last year from firearms-related injuries than any other cause. Wooo yeah - all the way, USA.

Have some manners, why don't you?

And on topic, someone breaks into my house I would do my level best to kill them. And actually, I have a licenced shotgun and I would use it.

[Tom.]

And they should have to do that why?

And the police could have maybe...took fingerprints, maybe made night patrols near his house to try and catch them out, helped him upgrade his security....a few things to help

It was not me admitting I didnt know what they could do, it was me giving up in frustration because I really cant understand your logic....hence my slightly offtopic attempt at a comparison above.

If only things were that simple. Thats the ideal situation but it won't happen due to costs and resources. As far as the government are concerned, one person is only a statistic and if its the choice between protecting one or protecting a larger group of people (which inevitably they would have to decide) then obviously they'll opt for the greater good.

The police aren't miracle workers, and you have a real Daily Mail view about what they can and cannot do. Maybe you should go and work with them for a week or two and see the constraints they're under.

[Vicky.]

Ah the old daily mail argument. Just because I think the police are **** in general :laugh:

[BB_Eye]

If the family demanded so little as an apology, I'd tell them to shove it up their ass... politely and sensitively of course :blush:. Compensation? Beyond the pale. Don't get me wrong, it is very different if the burglar is trying to escape with their dear life. However, if the home owner kills an escaping burglar in fear that they might never see their property again, I shouldn't begrudge it.

Where I draw the line is if the burglar, having been incapacitated and the victim's stolen property recovered, is then killed. That would be cowardly and immoral.

Anyhow, I hope the situation never arises where I would need to go so far as to take somebody's life to defend myself. I wouldn't feel guilty (why should I?), but would feel immensely sad that somebody could throw away their life and die a petty criminal.

[Tom4784]

I disagree that deadly force is acceptable in a burglary because a burglar's first instinct is to get away if they are caught in the act. If they attack you then of course defend yourself but deadly force isn't acceptable if someone's trying to get away. If you want to stop someone getting away then you aim for the legs, that's one thing i was always taught if I couldn't avoid coming into contact with a burglar, otherwise I was taught to let them get on with it as all the important stuff was insured.

[Beso]

Reasonable force is a like for like thing. If they punch you, punch them back, don't run at them with a knife or something. Thats all it means

that depends which room of the house you are in. If you were in the kitchen you would more than likely be able to claim self defence.

[Niamh.]

there was a similar case here actually a couple of years ago, a farmer was being terrorised by travellers breaking into his house, the same ones all the time. The police did nothing and he eventually snapped, he shot one of them in the back and beat him. He was convicted on manslaughter and got 6 years but it was overturned on appeal. He has had to go into hiding though.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/farmer-who-shot-traveller-goes-into-hiding-as-court-frees-him-73227.html

[Zippy]

Its all very well saying all the things about what you should do when you find a burglar in your home. But Im sure in the heat of the moment adrenalin takes over and you act on pure instinct and emotion. You just do not know what the burglar could do to you or what their intentions are. So you aim to disable them in some way. This is where the thin line between assault and manslaughter can come into play. Or self defence and manslaughter.

but the bottom line is they have invaded your property and should take the consequences.

[bananarama]

The reasonable force rule has been drawn up by the usual type of idiots that get themselves into a position of holier than though power.

Burglars are low life........They should hang..........end of.......

[Zippy]

The reasonable force rule has been drawn up by the usual type of idiots that get themselves into a position of holier than though power.

Burglars are low life........They should hang..........end of.......

well Im sure no country has laws that just allow for any kind of violence against intruders with no consequences. Laws are there to set standards. Trials are there to look at each case in detail. Hopefully, common sense and justice wins the day.

Vigilantism is nice in theory but in reality it can be disastrous. The Tony Martin case gets sympathy because he was pushed to the limits after 10 invasions.