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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Arrested for murder - wtaf?

199 replies

Wife2b · 25/01/2022 07:51

Can’t believe what I’m reading. Yes I know Daily Fail blah blah. But reading the article, wtaf?

In short, man stabs woman in broad daylight up to 10 times with a kitchen knife, brave bystanders try to intervene but are unsuccessful. Attacker sits on woman continuing to stab her and the only thing that helps is a random member of the public running over him with a car (albeit unfortunately hitting the victim also). Now both the attacker and victim are dead (likely due to stab injuries I imagine given helpers couldn’t stop the bleeding) and the driver arrested for murder.

What on earth is up with our justice system? It’s like common sense and discretion based on context goes completely out the window.

Aibu to think the bloke should be given a medal and not thrown in the back of a police van?

Link to article:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10437219/What-Words-hero-ploughed-car-woman-trying-save-knifeman.html

OP posts:
Original poster
Wife2b · 25/01/2022 07:54

Sorry didn’t realise another thread exists. Will request for this to be deleted.

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 25/01/2022 07:54

my first thought was also wtf? But then I thought the last thing we want it to create a precedent for it being acceptable to run people over with your car when you see a crime in progress.

I doubt he'll be convicted of murder but I bet he'll get manslaughter or dangerous driving or other motoring offence.

LordEmsworth · 25/01/2022 07:56

What, you think the police shouldn't investigate? You think they should look at the scene and go "well that's an open-and-shut case, no need for us here"?

Arresting him to question him and investigate what happened allows them to apply common sense and discretion. They really shouldn't let someone who has killed someone walk away because "well the victim obviously deserved it". It's not "the justice system", it hasn't reached the justice system yet - it's the investigation system.

SummerHouse · 25/01/2022 07:56

Not read the article but from your summary I would say that's the only option - to arrest for murder. Whether there's a charge, lesser charge, conviction etc is another matter. The police are not judge and jury and can't make decisions on what's mortally right. It's a very horrible set of circumstances.

LemonViolet · 25/01/2022 08:02

Errrrrrrr

Well no. He killed two people by deliberately running them over.

One of them may have died anyway from previously sustained wounds but that is for a coroner to determine, not anyone who’s only evidence is a newspaper article.

He’s been arrested, that is a fair course of action. An investigation needs to happen.

LemonViolet · 25/01/2022 08:04

Don’t delete thread, if need be lock it and link to the other one.

Nos3y · 25/01/2022 08:04

I get your point. Could you just stand by and do nothing? However, if we let people take justice into their own hands...or allow people to commit a crime to stop another we would be living in The Purge.
I get the anger though it doesn't feel right to charge him with murder. He'll hopefully just get dangerous driving and a suspended sentence. But you can't live eye for an eye or it would he mayhem

Ploppy1322 · 25/01/2022 08:06

I understand your point in principle but I'm not sure driving over the woman being stabbed was probably the best way to help her!

araiwa · 25/01/2022 08:07

Great.

Another person who doesn't understand basic terms but complains about them

Seeline · 25/01/2022 08:11

But we can't let individuals start policing/punishing society on impulse! Our justice system is far from perfect, but everyone is entitled to a fair hearing.

anon12345678901 · 25/01/2022 08:11

@LemonViolet

Errrrrrrr

Well no. He killed two people by deliberately running them over.

One of them may have died anyway from previously sustained wounds but that is for a coroner to determine, not anyone who’s only evidence is a newspaper article.

He’s been arrested, that is a fair course of action. An investigation needs to happen.

The London Fire Brigades statement says only the man was trapped by the car. They both died at the scene but there's no confirmation, as far as I know, the driver contributed to her death.
BigYellowHat · 25/01/2022 08:15

It was a bit of a stupid thing to do though. I’m all for the public intervening (when it’s safe to do so) but this was entirely uncalled for.

prh47bridge · 25/01/2022 08:26

He has been arrested while the police investigate. He hasn't been charged with anything. Do you really want the police to not bother investigating when a driver deliberately runs someone over and kills someone? They need to determine exactly what happened, not rely on the press rushing to judgement.

kittykutty · 25/01/2022 08:34

@Seeline

But we can't let individuals start policing/punishing society on impulse! Our justice system is far from perfect, but everyone is entitled to a fair hearing.

He was mid-act, killing a woman. Some people should spare their sympathy for the appropriate party.

HopeYourHighHorseBucks · 25/01/2022 08:38

Realistically he has to be arrested for them to carry out their investigation. Getting charged is a completely separate thing. They have to establish what exactly has happened, they can not tell him to go home and have a cup of tea. Its pretty standard thankfully.

I worked with someone who when killed her husband in self defense (and called the police herself) was arrested for murder at the start, after the investigation she received a lesser charge. They have to start with something.

DrSbaitso · 25/01/2022 08:41

The situation needs to be investigated.

Seeline · 25/01/2022 08:45

@kittykutty I was expressing sympathy for anyone!

Concerned that a vigilante society is not somewhere I wish to live in. Individuals cannot go round imposing their own rules and punishments. A situation that you may come across in the street may be entirely different from the first impression. Someone acting in self defence may end up being killed by a passerby in a similar scenario to that described by the OP.

CynsterBitch · 25/01/2022 08:48

This is how the justice system should work, it’s right that he he is charged with murder as by the sounds of it he deliberately used a car as a weapon and now two people are dead. I imagine the mitigating circumstances will help him and depending on the stabbing victim ( did they die from stabbing or being run over) he might be found guilty of a something but maybe not something as serious as murder.

HopeYourHighHorseBucks · 25/01/2022 08:48

What's to stop me ramming my car in to someone and police saying oh yeah alright then run along.

Yes there was witnesses, yes there was a reason he did it (in which I actually agree with him tbh)

But the police have to detain him to get to that. Imagine the paperwork itself on all person involved and its obvious why they have to detain him.

elfycat · 25/01/2022 08:49

It's not the police's job to decide who is guilty or innocent of a crime. People have died and the right thing to do is to arrest everyone 'involved' in those deaths and then take statements, let all parties get lawyers and let the CPS have at it to see if there's a case to bring to trial.

Imagine if the police were allowed to just decide not to investigate coz 'looks alright to us'.

And now the driver has the right to have an attorney with him to make sure the police ask ONLY the right types of questions. It protects him as much as anything.

kittykutty · 25/01/2022 08:49

[quote Seeline]@kittykutty I was expressing sympathy for anyone!

Concerned that a vigilante society is not somewhere I wish to live in. Individuals cannot go round imposing their own rules and punishments. A situation that you may come across in the street may be entirely different from the first impression. Someone acting in self defence may end up being killed by a passerby in a similar scenario to that described by the OP.[/quote]

If you or your loved one was the poor woman in this scenario - straddled by a knife man stabbing them - your take issue? Because that's what you're precious post is saying, it's not justified. A woman in this case, should be allowed to be slaughtered in front of onlookers, because we can't kill an active murderer?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but that's how I take it. It's clearly exceptional circumstances- or should we not be allowed to defend ourselves/others lest a killer be hurt?

kittykutty · 25/01/2022 08:50

He should definitely Be arrested but I think there's trying witness testimony even at this stage. It doesn't appear to be anything other than defence, though he may well pick up a minor offence (fair enough).

Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 25/01/2022 08:51

At first I was shocked but then thinking about it the police didnt have any choice to arrest him.
Itll will be up to the courts to prosecute and I cant see it. Is it lawful murder or something. I doubt he will be charged

Toanewstart22 · 25/01/2022 08:51

The stupid man killed the victim

Seeline · 25/01/2022 08:54

But who decides when exceptional circumstances apply?

And no, no-one should have the right to kill another human without facing some sort of investigation. Can't you see where this would end?

Whether that individual would be charged with murder, or convicted of that or a lesser crime, or indeed actually punished is an entirely different matter.

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