Wednesday, 28 October 2009

"Someone said to me earlier that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time..."

"...but I said that he was in the right place at the right time. An Englishman's home is his castle."

That was then. This is now.
Before the hearing, CPS lawyer Ian Cunningham said: 'I have decided that when Omari Roberts disturbed two burglars and caused injuries to them - in one case fatally - his actions were not reasonable.

'I have looked very carefully at the public interest in this case, and I am satisfied that it requires a prosecution.

'I also discussed the case with the CPS principal legal adviser and have decided there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.'
I wonder what the jury will think?
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10 comments:

  1. MTG28 October 2009 at 10:22

    Mr Cunningham, this unfortunate accident arose whilst the defendant was legitimately holding the Sword of Despair (an important symbol of his religion), to counteract an equally legitimate use of nonchucks and ceremonial daggers by Mr James Fry - you do recall Mr James Fry, the blade packing...er...carrying pagan you couldn't prosecute?

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  2. Quiet_Man28 October 2009 at 10:29

    I'm of the opinion that if you enter someone's premises for the purpose of committing a crime then your human rights go out the window and should you be injured or killed then it's a case of serves you right.

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  3. Jim28 October 2009 at 10:54

    I agree with Quiet Man - all this human rights nonsense, there should be a human responsibility act as well which lays down what you have to do to get your human rights, top of the list should be not being a criminal.

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  4. Weekend Yachtsman28 October 2009 at 12:25

    If the jury acquits, he can have another trial at a later date, with a better jury who would understand.

    We don't have any of that old-fashioned double jeopardy nonsense any more, you know.

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  5. Mark28 October 2009 at 14:12

    I've got a premonition that the 'Guardian' may take a softer line on householders 'taking the law into their own hands' with reference to this case, as compared to the Tony Martin case. Omari Roberts seems rather more up their alley (urban,ethnic, mother in a 'public service' job)than Mr Martin (a rural,white, huntin' & shootin' type).

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  6. Fat Hen28 October 2009 at 17:33

    Smart people will take their cue from this and no longer call the police to arrange the dog food disposal...

    What I especially loved about this all was the juxtaposition in the Daily Wail headlines, with the top headline screaming about a repeat sexoffender who killed a girl being done for kidnap and manslaughter, and directly underneath this, the headline announcing that this kid is getting done for murder for defending his home from a burglar he caught red-handed.

    Oh moon of Alabama...

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  7. blueknight28 October 2009 at 19:57

    The law should take account of how the real victim felt when he confronted a burglar in his home. Adrenaline rush is known as 'fight or flight' for a good reason

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  8. Anonymous28 October 2009 at 23:00

    If anyone needs a further reason to detest Labour, and in particular Stephen Pound, then take a look at this.

    One should in any case detest Mr Pound whether one reads it or not.

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  9. JuliaM29 October 2009 at 06:25

    "Mr Cunningham, this unfortunate accident arose whilst the defendant was legitimately holding the Sword of Despair (an important symbol of his religion), to counteract an equally legitimate use of nonchucks and ceremonial daggers by Mr James Fry.."

    Indeed!

    "I'm of the opinion that if you enter someone's premises for the purpose of committing a crime then your human rights go out the window..."

    Me too. And most of the rest of the population, it seems.

    "...top of the list should be not being a criminal."

    Well, yes. After all, he didn't even pursue this one! So how 'excessive force' can be proven, I don't know...

    "If the jury acquits, he can have another trial at a later date, with a better jury who would understand."

    Ah, yes. Had forgotten that little nail in the coffin of English justice.

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  10. JuliaM29 October 2009 at 06:28

    "I've got a premonition that the 'Guardian' may take a softer line on householders 'taking the law into their own hands' with reference to this case, as compared to the Tony Martin case. Omari Roberts seems rather more up their alley..."

    Indeed. We'll see. I bet they simply don't cover it.

    "Smart people will take their cue from this and no longer call the police to arrange the dog food disposal..."

    That's a real fear, and one a top judge raised just yesterday.

    "Adrenaline rush is known as 'fight or flight' for a good reason"

    As the US system recognises. And we don't...

    "One should in any case detest Mr Pound whether one reads it or not."

    Good advice.

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