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Original poster

78 pensioner arrested for fatally stabbing burglar in his own home

999 replies

SShaming · 04/04/2018 12:20

2 burglars break into a 78 year old man’s home armed with screwdriver.

Forces owner into the kitchen whilst one of them goes upstairs.

A fight ensues, leaving pensioner with injuries to his arm and burglary is fatally stabbed. Perhaps with his own screwdriver although this is TBC.

Police arrest pensioner.

On what planet is this right?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Frequency · 04/04/2018 13:02

If you find someone in your home you have to assume the absolute worst intentions

Well, no, not really. If they are threatening you, absolutely defend yourself with as much force required but if they're only after your things, call the Police and let them leave alive. Things are replaceable, someone's son is not and this was someone's son.

I've been burgled twice. Once we were in bed, sleeping. Once I was home alone, walked into the kitchen to find someone half in/half out the kitchen window with my laptop in their hands. They were as shocked and frightened as I was and killing them would've been in no way appropriate of defensible, even if they didn't drop the laptop.

Most, if not all, burglars are addicts. Your own sons and daughters are one bad choice away from being in their shoes. Remember that next time you advocate a death sentence for burglary.

If the case is as clear cut as people are assuming, I feel for the man but the Police need to do their job. I'm sure he will be released without charge or acquitted if the evidence says it was self defense (as in defense of his life, not his stereo). If he was defending his property and had no good reason to believe he was in mortal danger, sorry but I think he deserves punishment.

MereDintofPandiculation · 04/04/2018 13:02

Apparently however burglars have rights. Yes, of course they have rights. At what point do you want to remove rights from offenders? Burglars, OK. What about muggers? What about shoplifters? What about fly tippers? What about people speeding?

bluebeck · 04/04/2018 13:04

I have been raped and been burgled (separate incidents) and can say they were nothing alike. Confused

Of course the man should be arrested and charged if he has killed someone. All of the circumstances will be taken into account (and we don't know what these are ) as any trial progresses.

Ghoul is correct - if he has used proportionate force to protect his life then he should be OK. If he actually initiated a physical attack on one of the burglars then he might well be found guilty.

I am glad I live in a country where life is valued above possessions (just about)

abstractlife · 04/04/2018 13:04

Of course he's been arrested! He's stabbed someone to death!

The police can't just turn up at a house where someone has been murdered, take the pensioner's word for it and then say "okay, we'll get this mess cleaned up. Have a good day sir" Hmm

HongKongPhooeyNo1Superstar · 04/04/2018 13:04

Typical. As a society we are not off from making victims thank and apologise to criminals. Oh and put the victims in prison and give a big gift to the criminal Angry.

Nicknacky · 04/04/2018 13:05

hongkong Don’t be ridiculous no one is saying that.

frigginell · 04/04/2018 13:06

"People invade homes and hurt and kill occupants all the time"

Do you have any statistics to support this statement?

Aworldofmyown · 04/04/2018 13:06

A person has died, regardless of what they did first it has to be investigated properly. The law has to be followed a certain way and the police will be covering every base (as they should be).

A horrible situation but it has to be done.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 04/04/2018 13:07

And equating burglars to rapists? Boggling.

how the fuck do you know what the man (or men) who just invaded your home is going to do exactly? If someone breaks in your home, how do you know they will just grab your car keys, destroy the place, rape you, or stab you?

I know we are talking about a 78 pensioner, who sounds like a hero if you ask me, but I can think of a couple of cases where pensioners have been raped in their own home!

If you are talking about MY home, the threat to my kids would be even worst than the threat to me.
Anyone who create such a threat should be fair game for any defense the home owner has to gather - bearing in mind the panick you enter when you hear the door being broken or the window being smashed. The terror doesn't keep you in the best state of mind.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 04/04/2018 13:07

It is an outrage. The poor man was probably terrified out of his wits when confronted with two burglars

“Was probably”. Exactly. He was probably terrified. But we can’t assume he was and nor can the police which is why they have to arrest and question him in order to find out. There is nothing outrageous about that.

PyongyangKipperbang · 04/04/2018 13:09

I agree that it must be investigated and part of that is the arrest of the person thought to be responsible. Apart from anything else, the caution given on arrest actually gives the suspect protection, which a lot of people dont realise.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/04/2018 13:09

Blimey, burgled, threatened in his own home and now arrested for defending himself and now arrested.

He's 78, he defended himself from two criminals, is he really a threat to society?

Nicknacky · 04/04/2018 13:09

ikeep It’s rare for assault or rape to occur during a housebreaking, most housebreakers want to be in and out with property as quick as and most are unarmed.

You cannot and shouldn’t compare to rape, they are both serious crimes obviously but are completely different.

Bimbaloo · 04/04/2018 13:09

It sounds as though some people think the police should have brought a brass band and a rosette for the arrested man. So much knee jerk outrage.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 04/04/2018 13:11

is he really a threat to society?

Guess what the investigation will do? Go on, guess.

TomRavenscroft · 04/04/2018 13:11

He's 78, he defended himself from two criminals, is he really a threat to society?

It is a bit ageist to assume that he's weak and ineffectual because he's 78.

It is also an assumption at the moment that he 'defended himself' rather than actively attacked the burglar. TBH I think it's likely it WAS self-defence; but until the police have got to the truth –which they can only do in the circumstances by arresting and questioning him – I'm not going to make that assumption.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 04/04/2018 13:11

if he has used proportionate force to protect his life then he should be OK

but what is proportionate force? Are we supposed to wait to see what injury we get before being able to reply? How do you guess if the criminal has a knife, a gun, will rape you, stab you, murder your kids or just grab a handbag and run?

how are you even supposed to think reasonably and decide?

Some people are trained to deal with these situations, most of us are not. There should not even be talk about "proportionate" when people are so scared.
The victim is 78 ffs! Glad he didn't end up being killed, but a system arresting him is a bloody disgrace.

Aeroflotgirl · 04/04/2018 13:12

That poor pensioner must have been terrified. Those scum should not have been breaking into his house, the law is a joke.

Bimbaloo · 04/04/2018 13:14

There's an impartial process that must be followed! Thank God all these emotional numpties aren't in charge of the law.

Babyplaymat · 04/04/2018 13:14

My nigh on 78 yr old dad was scrambling around on a yacht yesterday in high winds attaching it to strops for launching, having just recommissioned his engine. Not all pensioners are frail and scared.

missbattenburg · 04/04/2018 13:14

He's 78, he defended himself from two criminals, is he really a threat to society?

We have no idea.

The burglary is reported. It is not confirmed. For all we know, he lured two men to his house with the intention of killing them and used the story of burglary to get away with it. Maybe he'd had them trapped in the spare room for weeks and stabbed them while they tried to escape. Maybe they were lodgers who tried to do a moonlight flit and he caught them.

Probably not. probably it is exactly what he says it is. But before the law has established that for certain, they need to arrest and question him.

Juells · 04/04/2018 13:15

Apparently however burglars have rights.

Missed a trick there, should have been 'rights' Grin

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 04/04/2018 13:15

Nicknacky
It might be rare, but who would take the risk when it happens to them, or worst to their child.

We cannot pretend someone attacked burglars who invaded his home! That's self defense full stop, they were trespassing in the first place, the victim didn't ask for any of this!

SlowlyShrinking · 04/04/2018 13:16

I really wouldn’t want to live in the kind of society where someone can be killed (for whatever reason) and the police don’t even bother to investigate, which seems to be what some posters on this thread are suggesting.
Branding certain people ‘scum’ who don’t even deserve the circumstances of their death to be investigated is just...unbelievable really. Thank god the law doesn’t agree.

Nicknacky · 04/04/2018 13:17

ikeep The point that has been made repeatedly which you are missing, is that there HAS to be an investigation. You can’t just assume what happened and take his word for that. Surely you can see that?