Farmer walks free after killing gang member

**Tank** · 17th February 2009, 10:03

Best news in the paper today:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10557174

**Indiana_Jones** · 17th February 2009, 10:09

Awesome

Does he still get to keep his firearm licence?

-Indy

**Finn** · 17th February 2009, 10:09

Just as well the gang member didn't reach for a spray can! The farmer would be behind bars.

Edit: Gee, I wonder who burnt down the farm house?

**Headbanger** · 17th February 2009, 10:10

Another good start.

They should hire him as a specialist negotiator.

**duckonin** · 17th February 2009, 10:13

Yep way out in the country can be a very lonley unforgiving place at times, and one must deal to the problems that arise the best way they can, and this man did just that...

**Tank** · 17th February 2009, 10:19

Originally Posted by vifferman

What if things were reversed, and the gang member had thought the other guy was reaching for a weapon and had killed him? Would that be OK too?

Im guessing that the farmer wouldn't have entered the gang members property, beaten him to a pulp previously, and was using stand-over tactics, on the gang member - thus not giving him any reason to expect that the farmer was carrying a weapon.

edit - added: "During the trial it was revealed that two weeks before the fatal shooting, Mr Allen had been brutally beaten with a fence post by two men who arrived on horseback demanding money. Mr Allen, who suffered extensive head and facial injuries, spent several days in Whakatane Hospital."

Then another of the gang turn up at your place demanding money and threatens to kill the guy.

Vifferman - Do you seriously not think that the farmer had a reasonable reason to believe that the guy wasn't serious. (And this isn't taking into account that the guys house mysteriously burnt down the day before he moved in)

**3umph** · 17th February 2009, 10:22

Originally Posted by vifferman

What if things were reversed, and the gang member had thought the other guy was reaching for a weapon and had killed him? Would that be OK too?

that would be for a jury to decide if that was to happen...

the jury in this instance had all the facts and came to a decision in the case....

**shafty** · 17th February 2009, 10:25

The Farmer was on his own property.

Bloody good job.

**MSTRS:Me** · 17th February 2009, 10:29

I just love a feel-good news story....Next!!

**Dooly** · 17th February 2009, 10:35

What a shame he had to go thru a trial and custody when a medal and cash reward would of been much easier.

**outlawtorn** · 17th February 2009, 10:38

Originally Posted by Tank

Best news in the paper today:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10557174

Good news indeed. Maybe things might start to turn around in this country in terms of sentencing....now we just need harsher sentences for those who commit crimes!

**Mikkel** · 17th February 2009, 10:50

Originally Posted by vifferman

Is killing in self defence a valid plea under NZ law?

I doubt that - but self-defense using reasonable force is I believe a valid plea just about anywhere in the civilised world.

When weapons are involved one way or the other, reasonable - but non-lethal - force becomes quite difficult to achieve.

**Beemer** · 17th February 2009, 10:57

Originally Posted by shafty

The Farmer was on his own property.

Bloody good job.

I agree - but the sad thing is, a very similar thing happened to a mate of mine in Taneatua years ago and his life turned to hell afterwards. He had his own lawnmowing business and lived out in the country. He heard someone stealing his truck one night so he went outside and fired a warning shot in the general direction. Pitch dark, no street lights, interior light in truck proven at trial not to have worked for years, so no way of seeing what he was shooting at, he just hoped to scare them off. He hit one of the thieving bastards and he bled to death. Gangs were involved and once the police were involved this mate was harassed and his pregnant wife threatened. She had to move out with their other child and he was scared for his life. He had to pay for his defence (got acquitted) but he paid far more than that. His marriage broke up due to the stress and he had to sell his home and business as it was too dangerous for him to live there any more. His story was in North and South years ago and I felt so sorry for him as he and his wife were a lovely couple with a great lifestyle until some thieving scum tried to take it off them.

Unfortunately this guy will be a marked man now, which is a real shame. Funny how both incidents occurred in the same region - and people ask why I don't miss Whakatane!

**imdying** · 17th February 2009, 10:58

Shooting gang members should be encouraged, whether they're standing over you for money, or just walking down the street. They're worth less than nothing, you shouldn't even have to bother calling the police, just metro refuse.