A Parallel Universe Exists?

**Lou Girardin** · 19th October 2005, 07:24

TV reported the aftermath of the Pender murder trial in ChCh. Pender killed a guy armed with nunchucks that had assaulted his girlfriend and was threatening to kill him, shooting him with a crossbow.
The dead guys mother said that her son was a gentle person who never used violence.
So why was he beating up women and threatening to kill someone?
Why wasn't he at home making a cuppa for his loving mum?
It seems that Pender was no angel either, but at least another clear message has gone out that if you're seriously threatened by some thug, there's sufficient commonsense shown by some juries that you may defend yourself effectively and not be convicted.

**Colapop** · 19th October 2005, 07:31

He did or didn't get convicted? I saw the original report when the triasl started and I thought he should have got off. That's no excuse for killing someone but you gotta be able to defend youself - especially if you know they're coming for you.

**thehollowmen** · 19th October 2005, 07:45

Originally Posted by Colapop

He did or didn't get convicted? I saw the original report when the triasl started and I thought he should have got off. That's no excuse for killing someone but you gotta be able to defend youself - especially if you know they're coming for you.

He got off.

I'm really worried now because they thought of classing crossbows as firearms last year. I own a few (sporting and collectables) and shoot, but I won't get a gun license. I guess this is ammo for the politicals..

**Colapop** · 19th October 2005, 07:50

My old man shot a guy with a crossbow who was burgling his gear shed. Police just told him off basically - the guy was a local gang member and they'd (the police) wanted him for awhile. Got him fitted up on threatening to kill, burglary, assault, resisting arrest........ Man he copped it (sorry bad pun) and got a crossbow bolt in the leg.

**spudchucka** · 19th October 2005, 10:11

I get the feeling that there is a lot more to this story than we will ever know. However, I also feel it was the correct decision not to convict. The mother of the dead guy was an interesting character, professing her son to be a nice, gentle lad.

**ManDownUnder** · 19th October 2005, 10:24

Who was it recently posted "Tis better to be tried by 12 of your peers than carried out by 6"...?

Very true

**Krayy** · 19th October 2005, 10:47

So the guy comes at the defandant with some Nunchukas, and he's got time to get his crossbow, find a bolt, cock the crossbow, load the bolt into it, aim and fire???

What's wrong with this picture?

**k14** · 19th October 2005, 11:06

Originally Posted by Krayy

So the guy comes at the defandant with some Nunchukas, and he's got time to get his crossbow, find a bolt, cock the crossbow, load the bolt into it, aim and fire???

What's wrong with this picture?

Nah i think from what i read in the paper the other day, the guy that got shot came round to teh guy that shot him's house with nun chuks etc and was threatening them. So the guy went into the house and got his crossbow with bolt and came out to try and get them to go away. Then the guy with the nun chucks advanced at the guy with the crossbow and then he shot him in the chest. I think he still should have been done for something, it kinda sets a precedence for future cases. Its a hard one to call but we don't want nz turning out the same as the states.

**Bartman10** · 19th October 2005, 11:57

It sounds like the whole lot of them are criminals.

Who cares if one gets shot and the other goes to jail.

**bungbung** · 19th October 2005, 12:12

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Who was it recently posted "Tis better to be tried by 12 of your peers than carried out by 6"...?

Very true

Sounds like the East Flatbush Project "tried by twelve", or one of the remixes.

Lyrics here: http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/flatb...ied_by.est.txt

**Colapop** · 19th October 2005, 12:19

Originally Posted by Bartman10

It sounds like the whole lot of them are criminals.

Who cares if one gets shot and the other goes to jail.

I subscribe to the concrete theory of justice - chuck 'em all in a large concrete tank and le't 'em fight it out the last one standing's the only you have to spend a bullet on.

**jrandom** · 19th October 2005, 12:19

Originally Posted by k14

Its a hard one to call but we don't want nz turning out the same as the states.

fooey, that's not going to happen in your or my lifetime.

on teh face of it this case was cut and dried, the dead guy turned up presenting a lethal weapon and making threats, the defendant readied a lethal weapon of his own and used it when dead dude refused to back down. textbook case involving self defense as a defense against a murder charge within NZ's laws. the cops did the right thing by charging the shooter, and the jury obviously understood the law correctly when they acquitted him. the wheels are turning smoothly.

nz will not turn into murka until the population is allowed to buy and carry around nun chuckers, crossbows and AR-15s willy-nilly at their own discretion. not likely any time soon.

**Badcat** · 19th October 2005, 12:38

Originally Posted by Krayy

So the guy comes at the defandant with some Nunchukas, and he's got time to get his crossbow, find a bolt, cock the crossbow, load the bolt into it, aim and fire???

What's wrong with this picture?

EXACTLY what i was thinking.
surely the guy doesn't leave a loaded, cocked crossbow in his house.
pretty hard to say it was "impulse" when you have to load and tension the bow first, isn't it?

**jrandom** · 19th October 2005, 12:41

Originally Posted by Badcat

surely the guy doesn't leave a loaded, cocked crossbow in his house.

er

why not?

nothing illegal about that far as I know. it's not a firearm.

if you moved in the somewhat criminal circles that this lot appeared to then you might think that having a lethal weapon handy was a good idea, too.

**Badcat** · 19th October 2005, 12:46

Originally Posted by Fish

er

why not?

nothing illegal about that far as I know. it's not a firearm.

if you moved in the somewhat criminal circles that this lot appeared to then you might think that having a lethal weapon handy was a good idea, too.

well, if you can't think why not, i'm not dropping by your place anytime soon.
K