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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to say that if you break into someones home

122 replies

WildWorld2004 · 26/07/2012 00:21

You should be ready to be attacked.

Have just read a news story about a guy who broke into a house & got attacked by the homeowner.

Now if someone broke into my home i would do whatever i could to protect myself, my child & my home. Wouldnt everyone else??

Whose fault is it if the burglar gets injured?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:22

You can use reasonable force, anything else is unlawful.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 26/07/2012 00:24

No, because the law is the law and you can't go round intending to cause serious harm even if someone is breaking in.

A man was famously charged and imprisoned for manslaughter (or was it murder? I can't remember) when he shot a burglar.

Olympia2012 · 26/07/2012 00:26

How do you think you would injure this intruder?

WorraLiberty · 26/07/2012 00:26

I agree in theory but I'm glad the law is in place.

Imagine how easy it would be to kill someone and stage a break in?

I remember him GetOrf, he shot the intruder in the back as he was running away...that's why he was imprisoned if I remember rightly.

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2012 00:28

Violence does breed violence and it is no coinsidence that in States in the US were house holders are allowed to fight back, that burglers are more prepared to carry weapons and be prepared to seriously injure the occupants.

Most people are attacked with their own weapons that they have by their bed.

Unless you are trained, you won't wake up and go into attack mode. Most women couldn't fight a man off, as much as they think they could, especially if they were naked, you would hesitate.

Better for everyone to rely on the police, otherwise you are in danger of turning a burglery into an assault/murder.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 26/07/2012 00:30

I just looked it up loser - took my time because I was convinced he was called Michael martin, but that was the former speaker of the house of commons. Blush He was actually Tony Martin and was sentenced to life for murder.

I think if a burglar came in my house my first thought would be to grab dd and run like the clappers out the back door. I wouldn't think to protect my property I wouldn't imagine.

scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:30

Tony Martin was the delightful man. Bizarrely there was a lot of public sympathy for the man who shot a burglar in the back while he was running away. Thankfully the law stops this vigilante shite.

Original poster
WildWorld2004 · 26/07/2012 00:31

How reasonable is reasonable though? The law isnt clear on that.

In the news story i was reading the guy had a knife & was threatening the homeowner & in a tussle the guy got stabbed 8 times(a bit much IMO) & the homeowner didnt get prosecuted. Is that reasonable?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:33

If it takes 8 stabs to stop someone from killing you then that is reasonable.

msrantsalot · 26/07/2012 00:34

Bizarrely? really? how threatened would you feel if someone came into your home in the night? Personally I would say shooting a burgalar in the back is not good, but I can still feel where the support is coming from

scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:35

Really? What threat is someone running away?

WorraLiberty · 26/07/2012 00:38

No-one here can say if it was unreasonable without looking at the evidence.

I mean if a 15 stone man broke into my house and I battered him with the nearest object...and he died that might sound like I was being excessive.

But add to the equation that I'm 5ft 3" and weigh 8st 3lbs...I've never had a fight in my life so wouldn't automatically know what 'excessive' is in that situation...and you've got a whole case to dissect and look into.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 26/07/2012 00:39

Well I think the law is clear isn't it.

If someone is running away from you they constitute no threat, so blasting them with a shotgun is seen as a malicious act. It doesn't matter if they were running away with your jewellery box.

WorraLiberty · 26/07/2012 00:39

That was to the OP by the way...not about the guy who shot the fleeing burglar in the back.

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2012 00:39

The problem was that there were police officers at the scene and when T Martin fired into the darkness, he could have shot anyone of them.

A lot of officers are killed in the US because of this attitude, so are innocent people, just for being on people's property.

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2012 00:41

"I mean if a 15 stone man broke into my house and I battered him with the nearest object...and he died that might sound like I was being excessive"

Chances are that you wouldn't even injure him, but he would then have to defend himself, which could at least knock you out cold, or kill you.

I wouldn't then want my children in that situation.

bobbledunk · 26/07/2012 00:44

Anybody breaks in and dp would kill them, I'd be doing my best. Luckily I'm not in Britain where you have to be very careful not to hurt the little darling or the police will arrest you. My right not to be attacked, raped, murdered and to defend myself and be defended from such is far greater than some worthless scumbags 'right' not to be injured/killed in the process of trying to harm me.

If someone breaks into your home you have to assume violent intention, not wait until they have you beaten to the ground, by then it's too late.

msrantsalot · 26/07/2012 00:46

I think its the fact that your adrenaline would be pumping, ok he's running but he could turn round, its a spur of the moment thing, if folk had a chance to stop and think then obviously they might think different, but in the spur of the moment when youve found a stranger in your house even if he is running it is fair to say you are still afraid

WorraLiberty · 26/07/2012 00:46

Sorry Birds I meant if he broke in and attacked me

I certainly wouldn't attack an intruder unless I was defending myself or my kids

Property can be replaced...lives can't.

scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:48

Bobble, the same rights exist in the UK except you can use reasonable force.

Original poster
WildWorld2004 · 26/07/2012 00:48

WWUD if your relative was the burgular. Would you lay flowers outside the burgled house where the burgular died?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 26/07/2012 00:50

Errrm...I don't know, why?

scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:52

Wild world, eh?

Original poster
WildWorld2004 · 26/07/2012 00:52

Because thats what the family of the burgular did. They gathered outside the house, crying & laying flowers like he was a saint.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 26/07/2012 00:54

Well, if a family member has died then you would expect grieving whatever the circumstances.

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