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AIBU?

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Original poster

To agree that Tony Martin's murder conviction should be over turned?

342 replies

FeckingEll · 16/11/2018 00:11

Just read an article that he is appealing against his conviction so his name is cleared before he dies. It always troubled me.

Putting myself in the position of living in a isolated farm which had been continously burgled, probably living in a state of hyper vigilance. Home invaded by a group of young men in the middle of the night. It was not right that he shot when they were not actually advancing towards him but he wouldn't have known that they weren't going to turn round and come back.

He didn't seek anyone out to kill them and he couldn't have been expected to have taken account of the age of the people who had invaded his home.

Much was made of him 'booby trapping' his house but who wouldn't so you could hear if anyone got in while you were sleeping?

The people responsible for the 16 year olds death were the adults who took him with them to invade someone else's house! It could easily have been Tony who was murdered. If someone invades your home in the middle of the night, you can expect that to be a potential outcome, no?

The way Tony was portrayed in the media was abhorrent especially as it has come out that he is on the autism spectrum.

?

OP posts:
Caprisunorange · 18/11/2018 09:09

Who on earth would want the same gun laws as the U.K.? I can’t think of anyone (except potential murders maybe?) who would think that a good idea.

I don’t even know why the USA keeps being referred to. You do realise their levels of crime, including burglary, is far far far higher than outs don’t you? Why would anyone in their right mind look towards the USA for crime prevention advice?

Poloshot · 18/11/2018 09:10

2boys - a pump action shotgun isn't illegal in the Uk.

SirGawain · 18/11/2018 09:20

but not sure what evidence they had
Exactly OP. You did not hear the evidence but you ‘ think ‘ he should have been acquitted.
The court, including 12 ordinary people, did hear it and convicted him. Ask yourself who is likely to be right.

LaDaronne · 18/11/2018 10:42

gingerrogered I was responding to Imissgmichael and her belief that the USA have got it right on how to deal with unwelcome visitors.

Miscible · 18/11/2018 11:52

gingerrogered, what's "right on" about stating the incontrovertible fact that, in law, a 16 year old is a child?

BertrandRussell · 18/11/2018 13:26

"

Ignore miscible anyway. She's so right on she will excuse rape and murder as being societies fault as long as the person who did it isn't white."

What complete and utter bollocks

Original poster
FeckingEll · 18/11/2018 18:28

Sowhat how could you possibly state that TM knew that the group of unknown men, all who had multiple convictions for violence, who invaded his house in the middle of the night were not a threat to him?

What utter codswallop!

OP posts:
user1457017537 · 18/11/2018 19:00

Yes they obviously only ran when they found a gun pointing at them. We live in a society where you can’t have a nice watch or ring, stand in the street with a mobile phone in your hand or drive a nice car. Can you blame anyone for fighting back and not wanting to be a victim.

Gingerrogered · 18/11/2018 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

beanaseireann · 18/11/2018 21:02

No sympathy for burglars.
You enter my property uninvited.....

Petalflowers · 18/11/2018 21:14

I don’t think his conviction should be dropped. He didn’t have to shoot at them. He could have just fired some warning shots into the air. He did kill them and you can’t let that go,unpunished.

Sparrowlegs248 · 18/11/2018 21:44

Anyone watching C4?

StoneofDestiny · 18/11/2018 21:57

Just finished watching the programme - he is an idiot! If he didn't intent to kill he needs to shut up. He is practically boating about it!

Sparrowlegs248 · 18/11/2018 21:59

He's an oddball, that's for sure.

staydazzling · 18/11/2018 22:01

YABU, Yeah he shot him inthe back whilst he was running away, and lied about not knowing he'd shot someone inthe interrogation. It's just simply not self defence, although burglars are horrible things!

user1457017537 · 18/11/2018 22:41

Well I couldn’t make Head nor tail of that. The dramatisation had me thinking Aspie and that he had been abused. Then the end when he goes back to Bleak House he is boasting and shows no remorse. He had just walked out of his home and had it boarded up never to return.

Sparrowlegs248 · 18/11/2018 22:43

User I think he was diagnosed with aspects, and some paranoid disorder.

Sparrowlegs248 · 18/11/2018 22:43

Aspergers....

GreenMeerkat · 18/11/2018 22:45

He shot a 16 year old kid in the back while he was running away and posed no further threat.

Yes he shouldn't have been there in the first place, but did he deserve to be killed? No.

dontlikebeards · 18/11/2018 23:12

I completely agree with Exhaustedmummy1811 I am also from the same town as Barrass and Fearon. They were bad people. Fearon spent a long time walking with a walking stick to further his compensation claim and would then be seen running down the road.

I do believe the manslaughter conviction should stick, however I don't believe he should have served a custodial sentence.

Original poster
FeckingEll · 18/11/2018 23:25

GrrenIf I read the court docs correctly Barras was deduced to be in a crouching position 5 metres away putting something into a holdall when he was shot. TM said he blinded by Fearon's torch and shot downwards. They both escaped out the window with Fearon getting help in a nearby house without mentioning Barras and Barras being found by police later in the grounds. It can't remember where the getaway driver went.

It's always been portrayed that Barras was shot deliberately in the back while running with TM being able to see him.

That wasn't the case.

OP posts:
Original poster
FeckingEll · 18/11/2018 23:27

Sorry that was to Green.

OP posts:
user1457017537 · 19/11/2018 08:49

After watching the docu drama I wasn’t aware that Barras and Fearon had travelled 60 miles to rob Bleak House. That shows intent on their part.

dinosaurglitterrepublic · 19/11/2018 09:01

His murder conviction was overturned and one of manslaughter was substituted. Should that be quashed too? No.

He already tried to get away with it entirely by using self defence in his trial. If he was successful, he would have been found not guilty. He shot the victim in the back when he was running away, the jury convicted him of murder on the basis that it wasn’t reasonable force in response to an immediate threat. He even tried to argue this again on appeal and the court said no. I agree with this.

He then used a different defence of diminished responsibility, which is a partial defence that reduces the offence from murder to manslaughter. He was successful and now has a conviction for manslaugthter for which he received a greatly reduced sentence.

Seems like justice has been served. I see no reason why his conviction should be overturned all together.

BasilFaulty · 19/11/2018 09:25

After watching the docu drama I wasn’t aware that Barras and Fearon had travelled 60 miles to rob Bleak House. That shows intent on their part

Oh well, they deserve it then Hmm