Masked armed robber dies after being pinned down in betting shop raid...
 

Masked armed robber dies after being pinned down during betting shop raid
A masked armed robber collapsed and died after being disarmed and pinned down by customers in a bookies.


The man, in his 50s, was believed to be wearing a gas mask and holding a gun when he stormed into the Ladbrokes branch in Plymouth, Devon, shortly before 7pm.

A group of customers immediately tackled the man, disarming him and pinning him to the floor while others raised the alarm.

Officers rushed to the scene and arrested the man, who was already unconscious. They then called for an ambulance and began trying to revive him but the gunman was declared dead a short time later.

The police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), has been informed of the incident.

A police spokesman said: "It quickly became clear the man was unresponsive and an ambulance was immediately requested by police who carried out CPR until they arrived

"A few minutes later three paramedics arrived at the scene and continued to carry out further CPR. Around 20 minutes later the man was declared dead at the scene by the paramedics.

"This incident has been voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

Chief Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith, of Devon and Cornwall police, said: "This is a very serious incident. We cannot speculate on what has actually taken place here today.

"A full investigation has now begun and while the IPCC carry out their investigation it is not appropriate to comment further."

Scenes of Crime officers remained at the scene into the night as a full investigation into the incident was launched.

Forensics experts wearing protective clothing have been working inside the building, which remained taped off into the early hours of Saturday morning. A HM Coroner van was seen leaving the scene shortly before 11pm on Friday night.

The man has been identified but next of kin have not yet been informed, police said.

Ladbrokes declined to comment

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...d-8467979.html
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/armed-robbe...6.html#XlMXRSy



...on one site, someone asked whether the people could be prosecuted for manslaughter....do you think that would be fair/right..?...

Not sure....but once again goes to show that crime doesn't pay.

They can surely claim self-defense since the criminal was wielding a gun.

..I would doubt that they would get charged with manslaughter, although they obviously haven't finished all the enquiries and established the cause of death, I don't think....it's more of a 'theoretical' thing as it is quite an interesting scenario...

If they were defending themselves from a gunman I don't think they should be prosecuted at all... his death is a strange one, but not a tragic one or one of a victim persuasion.

No it Ain't the
Punk had a Gas mask on his head.


At least you do not have to fund his prison costs.


"Ladbrokes has said it is assisting police with the investigation."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz2J4pXcoAQ






Life In The Fast Lane

..at first I thought maybe he had a heart attack..but he could have been asphyxiated, I wonder whether that would lead to any charges, not manslaughter but something lesser maybe...it would seem unfair to be charged with anything at all...

I wonder if the gas mask still haad the filter cannister fitted.

Depends on the cause of death and what the coroner deems to have been instrumental in bringing about his death.

Yes they do have the right to defend themselves and also to restrain the man while waiting for the police, however some buffoon in the CPS will decide whteher or not it was restraint using minimum force.

If they do decide to prosecute they will face a massive media and public outcry.

What are the odds on prosecution ..... :puzzled:

I was told by a police officer once (off duty and off the record) that if you kill a burglar in your home then you drag them to your bedroom or better still a child's bedroom as you are less likely to face charges if it is deemed you were protecting a life rather than your property. If he has died as a direct result of the people restraining him I guess the CPS will look quite long and hard at it

There will be no prosecutions over this case, even if the forensics show he was unlawfully killed nobody would testify against anybody or everybody could agree he was attacked by an unamed assailant . There would be no chance of a successful prosecution in this case.

But you gotta feel sorry for the robber, he had not thought it through to try and rob a busy bookies office with a toy gun and threaten people who were poverty stricken themselves probably more than a few with gambling debts, was a pretty dumb ass plan to start with. Shame it cost him his life, wonder if it was heart attack brought on by the situation which got out of hand...!!!

what are the odd's of this happening.

What brave people!

I think you may find the bookies had CCTV which could be used in any prosecution brought, just depends if the CPS believe the force used to restrain the raider was more than could be deemed reasonable to restrain him.

For example if two or three people sat on his back as opposed to just one.

He could not breath , anyway
it was his condition.

He was just out of Jail.

At least no more Jail Costings for him.

no just a full investigation and many man hour's to pay for.

Thats up to the Police.

But the punk had Breathing trouble condition as normal.


so it could be cleared up fast

If he was just out of jail, then straight off goes and breaks the law again, then what good has prison done? What a c**p system we must have going. It must feel like a little paid holiday for some.

Yes I forgot about the CCTV but it depends where they sat on him ie was it in camera shot plus was the CCTV actually working or recording or was the quality not good enough to positively identify the culprits.

Also in all honesty can you really see any prosecution against good citizens that thwarted an armed robbery and tried to restrain him using reasonable force but accidentally smothered him perhaps causing a heart attack or possibly he was ashmatic or suffered from a bronchial condition.

All in all I cannot see any conviction for murder or manslaughter arising from this...!!!

Not Everyone is the Same
I do not know his Private Life.


He was Stupid to have that kind of mask
with his breathing problems.

He Died
But it was His Own Fault.


Those that held him down
did not know he had a breathing problem.