the U.K. likes its burglars

[bigsky]

The Criminal Justice system managed to delay his release again, on the grounds of the risk he posed to members of Britain's burgling community as they went about their daily labours.

http://www.tonymartinsupportgroup.org/

[Dowding]

Every country has an imperfect justice system. Fortunately, the UK does not believe in absolute sentencing, unlike the US, for instance.

The UK needs to toughen up on sentencing and maybe turn the Falkland islands into a penal colony.

[-tronski-]

Just don't send them to us mate

 Tronsky

[Dowding]

I think being sent to Australia should be part of a reward scheme for model citizens. Funny how things turnaround. Now you've got air conditioning and running water, Britain views Australia in a completely different light.

Would love to emigrate out there - one of the reason's I'm training to be an accountant is to boost my chances, should I ever need a change of climate. Girlfriend is a nurse, so maybe in the future it might happen?

[lazs2]

If your criminals are like the guy who got sent to prison and your citizens are like the burglar... we'll take the criominals.

lazs

[Mickey1992]

I thought Martin was released last year?

---------===============----------------

Tuesday October 26, 10:37 AM
 
Judge backs farmer who shot burglar
Victim support groups have called for clarification of the law after a burglar shot during a raid on a farmhouse was jailed for seven years while the farmer who fired at him was backed by a judge.

Derby Crown Court heard how John Rae, 22, had targeted 73-year-old Kenneth Faulkner's isolated home three times last year before the pensioner hit back.

Mr Faulkner's treatment contrasted with the prosecution of Tony Martin, who was jailed for the manslaughter of a burglar at his isolated Norfolk farmhouse seven years ago.

Mr Martin served two-thirds of his five-year sentence for killing 16-year-old Fred Barras before being freed in July last year.

His conviction provoked a tide of public sympathy and his supporters said the 58-year-old should not have been jailed for protecting his property.

Victim support organisations called for clearer guidelines for householders on what constitutes "reasonable force" when protecting their homes against intruders.

Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, backed Mr Faulkner.

He said: "The law does not need changing, it just needs to be explained in layman's terms to the public about what reasonable force can they use to protect themselves, their families and their homes.

"Every householder has the right to protect themselves and their property and the law says that they can use what force they believe is necessary.

"The law is on the side of the householder, not the criminal."

[AKIron]

I find this last paragraph particulary interesting.

Lastly – are householders really at risk from burglars ? Was Tony Martin being paranoid when he feared for his life as three men broke into his isolated property at night? Home Office figures supplied to the Tony Martin Support Group show that over a five year period at least SIXTY SIX householders have been killed by burglars, many of the victims being elderly. These figures are an understatement, as they do not include those killed by 'intruders', and we requested further details from the Home Office on January 8th 2002. We have so far had no reply. Perhaps they've lost the forms.


Sounds like someone is trying to manipulate the numbers for what purpose I can only imagine. Are the burglars in charge over there?

[Dago]

I thought cricket bats were the first line of defense in Britain?

dago

[Curval]

Originally posted by -tronski-
Just don't send them to us mate

 Tronsky

lol...upon entering Austrailia a British businessman was asked by an immigration official if he had a crimminal record.

The man responded to the official by saying "No, but I didn't realise this was still a requirement".

[JBA]

Perhaps we US citizens should start a letter righting campaign, i.e. the Guardian did in Ohio, to get the laws changed in the UK.

Perhaps a pro DEATH Penalty law and a right to carry law would be a good place to start.

Lets see how they like foreigners middling in their affairs?

[GRUNHERZ]

That man should come to the USA...

[Maverick]

These quotes from a Judge just boggle the mind.





"I have to take the view that there are important issues here that need to be determined and that it would be wrong, subject to other considerations, to deprive the claimant from airing his claim and having a full trial,'' said District Judge Oliver.

He said that to deny Fearon the right to his claim could contravene the burglar's rights under Section 6 of the Human Rights Convention.

And he added the case would be sent to the High Court because of the amount of public interest and because of the complex nature of matters to be decided.

District Judge Oliver said that the full hearing must consider what rights a householder has to protect his property and also whether a burglar can be deemed to be outside of the law.  

Huh??? I would have thought that burglary by definition was "outside of the law".

[Toad]

Mav, next time you pass through town, I'll have to ask you to step outside your trailer while I burgle it. It's my right you know.

And you'll be "outside the law" if you try to stop me.

Which cabinet has the good scotch, btw? I don't want to delay you with a long search.

[AKIron]

No French intimation intended here but you Frogs need to jump outta that water before it gets any hotter.

Of course we're in the same pot across the pond but at least we've got folks blowing out the fire.

[Airhead]

The REAL tragedy here is that Mr. Martin was in posession of a firearm... The last thing Britain wants is their citizens defending themselves. Why, that's the job of the Government.