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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have no sympathy for the burglar

758 replies

Mitmoo · 19/09/2011 09:10

Another burglar has been stabbed to death when he broke into a businessman's home. His wife and child were returning to the property. The details are very scant at the moment as it is early day.

But the burglars who were stabbed robbing a shop, and an edlerly shopkeeper killed one of them, he was not prosecuted. I think that's right.

It's on R5Live now being debated after another burglar was killed at the weekend.

Personally I think home burglars should take getting stabbed as a occupational hazard. I have no sympathy for them.

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 20/09/2011 18:27

Nothing sinister lequeen. I just assume that like most people you sleep, sometimes drink, often are in separate places from each other and your children, may not always be in contact with each other, may not know the full story - loads of things.

People who want to do you harm take advantage of these things and you react in the way you feel is best at the time. There's no right or wrong procedure.

That's all.

LeQueen · 20/09/2011 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Animation · 20/09/2011 18:49

It could have got very nasty if the wife and child hadn't got out the house. They could have been tied up, taken hostage or worse.

The child was spared seeing or experiencing any of that - and no doubt that was on the father's mind when he shouted out - and sprang into action.

He's a hero to his family - quite rightly.

kerrymumbles · 20/09/2011 18:59

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CheerfulYank · 20/09/2011 19:02

Limited I linked the page about the Petit tragedy merely to illustrate why I would not hesitate to harm someone if I felt it would keep my son safe.

Before the case, I would have assumed the if I just handed over the money or whatever and kept quiet things would be more or less okay. Now , right or wrong, I would go with the worst-case assumption: that it would end with me strangled and raped and my child molested and tied to a bed whilst the house burns around them.

Most likely things will not end this way. But they could and I'll react accordingly.

CheerfulYank · 20/09/2011 19:02

assumed that

begonyabampot · 20/09/2011 19:04

Emotions have been running high here and it's all got a bit out of hand but using terms such as Mr Cooke should be 'grateful' to be alive and just 'hassled' (think his ordeal and continuing ordeal counts as more than 'hassle') are quite dismissive and provocative - but hopefully the investigation will clear things up and let those involved move on, whatever the truth is.

kerrymumbles · 20/09/2011 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kerrymumbles · 20/09/2011 19:08

This reply has been deleted

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begonyabampot · 20/09/2011 19:10

Guess you go on your instincts depending on the situation. Even if an intruder was unarmed I would consider myself justified in using what I can get my hands on, whether the courts might think different is a chance I'd have to take. Or I might put up no resistance, seriously who knows.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/09/2011 19:11

bemy and do you really need spelling out that all of the things said could be true, we dont know what happened AND no one thinks the burgler was a good all round chap and the householder a bastard?

Not wishing to join in with the 'glad the scumbag has been shivved' isnt the same thing as 'poor young scallwag was in the wrong place at the wrong time'

If I needed to kill someone to protect my family of course I would but I would also expect to have the incident investigated.

So what if one scumbag broke into another scumbag's house and they both stabbed each other?

What if the one who lived in the house was a drug dealing peado and the burgler was a dog kicking, kitten drowning, benefit scrounging wife beater?

Whose death would I supposed to be most pleased about?

From what we know, this is a very unpleasant and unfortunate case and the householder will have to live with the guilt of killing another human being for the rest of his life. He is a victim.

The burgalar was wrong and up to no good and he paid for it with his life.

There is nothing to be celebrated here. No battle has been won, no good has been done.

Its all horrible.

begonyabampot · 20/09/2011 19:35

Agree Mrs Devere but it would have been more horrible if it had gone the other way and the householder and his family had been hurt or worse so for most people this outcome is welcomed rather then the other - of course it would have been preferable if none of it had happened in the first place.

We were burgled while we slept, luckily there were no confrontations and for that I'm forever grateful. But after that when my husband was away on business I slept with my biggest kitchen knife under my bed, according to some here I 'was going looking for it' and probably would have fallen into the 'violent householder' category.

limitedperiodonly · 20/09/2011 19:37

There is nothing to be celebrated here. No battle has been won, no good has been done. Its all horrible.

What MrsDeVere said seems right.

I don't understand why people are trying to say anything otherwise. It's not a Bruce Willis film

Animation · 20/09/2011 19:43

Well, what this guy did was brave. He protected himself and his family and I commend him for that.

bemybebe · 20/09/2011 19:47

Please quote me saying I am 'celebrating' or anything to that effect. This is bloody offensive. I think you are simply twisting my words MrsDeVere I never ever said anything that can be interpreted as dancing on this guys grave or similar. Get off your high horse and get your facts right.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/09/2011 19:50

I am not twisting your words bemy I havent even read them. Only the last post. Please dont give yourself airs.

I will get off my high horse, you can get on it and use it to get over yourself.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/09/2011 19:54

begoneya absolutly.

I am glad this guy and his family are safe. He was protecting himself against an intruder.

But of course would have been better if none of it had happened.

I am sorry to hear about your burglary how horrible for you. Sad

People are allowed to defend themselves which is why they are rarely prosecuted in these cases. This is the third in a few months and the other two cases were investigated and no charges were made. I fully expect it to happen in this case.

Animation · 20/09/2011 19:59

"I will get off my high horse, you can get on it and use it to get over yourself."

Smile Not heard that one before.

begonyabampot · 20/09/2011 20:04

TBH, our burglary had the best outcome in that no one was hurt, no damage was done and nothing taken that couldn't be replaced - he was also caught so I'm not looking for sympathy as I never felt traumatised though did make me wonder if he could have been in our bedroom or the children's and what would have happened if one of us had woke up.

bemybebe · 20/09/2011 20:13

Mrs "do you really need spelling out that all of the things said could be true"

Oh yeah, anything can be true, even life on Mars. Just very unlikely...

OhdearNigel · 21/09/2011 09:50

I doubt there will be any compensation awarded. Compensation after a death is usually awarded in relation to how much money the family will lose due to the death of a relative - and as you can't count burglary as a legitimate source of income they won't be getting very far

begonyabampot · 21/09/2011 09:55

thing is some of the family of Jacob are maintaining that he is innocent and was 'murdered'. They feel that they have a right to lay their flowers there and that no respect has been shown to them in the flowers being moved. Hopefully the investigation will be done quickly and thoroughly to allow everyone to move on.

kelly2000 · 21/09/2011 11:31

He broke into a house, made sure the homeowner was there before they broke in (they called him to the front door), and took a knife with him. How was the homeowner wrong in defending himself, how is that murder. Was he supposed to let the invaders do whatever they wanted on the chance they might not hurt him or his family? In a situation like this you take the chance you believe will cause less harm to yourself and family, you do not consider the risk to the attacker.

TotemPole · 21/09/2011 12:14

You'd need to ask the family why they think he's innocent and has been murdered.

Maybe, as far as they know, turning up with a knife isn't his usual style . The papers say he had dozens of convictions for burglary, robbery and theft. No mention of aggravated burglary. The papers also mention the 18 months for GBH. I would have thought if he'd been convicted of any violent robberies in his past the papers would have been mentioned them.

OhdearNigel · 21/09/2011 12:32

Just because he hasn't been convicted of a similar offence doesn't mean he hasn't committed them - just means there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. That could be down to something as straightforward as all the witnesses in the case refusing to give evidence due to fear.
I have defendants in my caseload at the moment who have committed and been arrested for dozens of offences that never see the inside of a courtroom for various reasons.