Ginchy MUTHAF***ers

[SPORK]

If anyone you know gets presents mislabelled to "Arnold" or "Mum" or "Sean" or "Lizzie"

That could lead to some very akward questioning from the Police...

Total bummer, I feel for ya. Man I hate people!

[Ghost Lemur]

Forgot to mention some dick just outta prision got done in with a crossbow down here a couple of days ago, after trying to break into a house with some mates. Put money on it they were going after presents (amongst other things). If it helps ya feel better I hear he died very slowly, as he was shot in the stomach.

[FROSTY:Me]

This is seriously sucky -fuckn hell man -dunno wot else to say.

[jrandom]

Forgot to mention some dick just outta prision got done in with a crossbow down here a couple of days ago, after trying to break into a house with some mates.

Excellent stuff.

What kind of trouble has the crossbow-wielding occupant ended up in, though?

[SPORK]

Excellent stuff.

What kind of trouble has the crossbow-wielding occupant ended up in, though?

Just in case, eh jrandom?

[jrandom]

Just in case, eh jrandom?

The law's pretty straightforward, but I'm always interested in how real-world situations of that nature are handled after the fact.

As you say, just in case.

[Yokai]

Mrs Yokai and I just want to say how overwhelmed we have been with all the generosity and kindness that you guys have shown. Thanks for all the wishes, offers of help etc. Been better than a visit to the for our faith in human kindness...

Its just really awesome that there are people out there that really do care about others - whether they know them in RL or not...

Thanks again guys and gals.

[Ghost Lemur]

Excellent stuff.

What kind of trouble has the crossbow-wielding occupant ended up in, though?

Been charged with iirc aggrivated assult(?) so far. And of course the other side effect (even though this is the first time that anyone has been killed with a cross bow) is one of the lowly opposition poly's (I think Ron Mark? NZ First?) is now advorcating that crossbows are superdupa dangerous and have to be classed as firearms and licenced as such... *yawn* same old same old, you think they would get bored playing the same old games over nothing.

[marty]

hey yokai - bummer dude. i've been to heaps of xmas burgs, it is a very upsetting time, and my heart goes out to you. it's hard to beleive that the burglars once counted the sleeps to christmas just like every one else. i'm not really sure how they deal with it, justify it. imagine being the recipient of a stolen christmas gift. either ignorant, naiive, or just plain thick.

and i have dragged more than a couple of worse-for-wear burglars/car thieves out of the complainant's hands. no complaints, no worries. it's a bit different when someone dies though, as the feds & coroner will always become involved. no problems if it's a broken nose/jaw/fingers etc though

[Ghost Lemur]

Update on the crossbow incident. He's now charged with murder, the two dead guy's mates are getting done for aggrevated robbery (correct me if I'm wrong Spud/Marty/co, but isn't aggrevated robbery mean there was a weapon or added violence involved?).

[jrandom]

He's now charged with murder...

Interesting.

What obligations are there to lay the most appropriate and/or stickable charge? Not really any, I suppose. Someone's dead, it's entirely at Police discretion whether to charge the slayer with murder, manslaughter, or whatever else.

I think the court date for the crossbow chappie is appropriate. If you kill someone, a jury should decide whether it was justified or not. It's a good principle. In this case, making assumptions based on the very little data I have, I would guess that he'll be acquitted of murder, and rightly so.

[MSTRS:Me]

Interesting.

What obligations are there to lay the most appropriate and/or stickable charge? Not really any, I suppose. Someone's dead, it's entirely at Police discretion whether to charge the slayer with murder, manslaughter, or whatever else.

I think the court date for the crossbow chappie is appropriate. If you kill someone, a jury should decide whether it was justified or not. It's a good principle. In this case, making assumptions based on the very little data I have, I would guess that he'll be acquitted of murder, and rightly so.

Could the man be given a medal & ACC for the scuff on his trigger-finger?? The country needs more of this response to crime. Nothing against the cops, but we all know that they can't protect the community like they used to. And as for the courts......

[Yokai]

My first line of defence would be that I was in fear for my life - that this was self defence and was the minimum force that I could use to protect myself (that's looking for an acquital or a pleabargain of GBH)

Second line is that it was completely unintentional - that I was threatening the burglar and that the crossbow discharged unintentionally (looking for minimal manslaughter time)

Third line ---- Ummmm - there really isn't one unless you claim severe mental trauma and incapacity at the time due to temporary insanity.

[James Deuce]

My first line of defence would be that I was in fear for my life - that this was self defence and was the minimum force that I could use to protect myself (that's looking for an acquital or a pleabargain of GBH)

Second line is that it was completely unintentional - that I was threatening the burglar and that the crossbow discharged unintentionally (looking for minimal manslaughter time)

Third line ---- Ummmm - there really isn't one unless you claim severe mental trauma and incapacity at the time due to temporary insanity.

Self defence isn't an acceptable legal defence in NZ. Dude's going to jail for murder unless a judge and jury decide to pervert the NZ justice system, yet again.

But on another it should be legal to kill bastards who nick Xmas pressies. That is seriously sucky. I take it there are no leads yet?

[jrandom]

Self defence isn't an acceptable legal defence in NZ.

Yes it is. 'Reasonable force' being the main doctrine thereof. I think. Case in point being the response when I asked a related question of the local Arms Officer a year or two back.

He stated that if I happened to be cleaning a gun, moving it from one cupboard to another, or otherwise engaging in Access with Reasonable Cause to a firearm, and an armed intruder entered the house (he cited a baseball bat or knife), I should not expect to end up being convicted of a criminal offense if I took advantage of my position and shot the guy.

I'm not going to force the self-defense point until I've gone and perused legislation.govt.nz later tonight, though, so if you happen to have something more concrete to post, feel free to stomp on my idiocy and higgerance. I know we've touched on the subject before here. In fact, I'm sure I've made an almost identical post before, too.

Did we ever reach a conclusion?