Pensioner arrested on suspicion of murder after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death.

[ddraig]

Been living in the centre of HG for the last five years and it's positively sleepy - I don't recognise any of this, or what was posted a couple of pages back.

I should've said it was probably 20yrs ago now
e2a glad it's improved

 

[Teaboy]

I should've said it was probably 20yrs ago now
e2a glad it's improved

Apart from all the burglaries and subsequent vigilante reaction?

 

[The Octagon]

In the hands of a trained killer, any domestic implement can be used as a deadly weapon - biro, scrabble tile, post it note. I'm not saying I am that trained assassin, The Guild insists on secrecy. But, y'know, just think on.

"A fucking penceeeel"

 

[Poi E]

I think handguns are bit dodgy for the budding domestic security enforcer. They're all a bit illegal and stuff also having obvious weapons near your bed as well. The pro household defending hardman has weapons lying around which could conceivably used for every day stuff. Hence there being over 18 million baseball bats in the country yet only 7 people who actually play the 'sport'.

Probably true. For an older bloke whose eyesight is not great, a sawn off shot gun would be a better idea.

 

[Teaboy]

Probably true. For an older bloke whose eyesight is not great, a sawn off shot gun would be a better idea.

I dunno. If your eyesight is that bad what are you going to do after you've missed twice?

 

[Poi E]

It will have scared the shit out of the burglar.

 

[likesfish]

well inside a room even if you miss he'll be blind and quite possibly deaf as well .
now if you load with dragonbreath shells he'll be on fire and so will everything else
Dragon's breath (ammunition) - Wikipedia
he round has also been used for intimidation purposes. It may also be used as a less-than-lethal option for self-/home-defense, although the less-than-lethal aspect and safety are disputed, as the magnesium shards burn at approximately 3,000 °F (1,650 °C), which is more than enough to light a person, or house, on fire

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Can’t be arsed to read the whole thread, and I see the guy has been bailed, but I’m afraid this is one area where I go a bit Daily Mail. Break into my house - which by definition makes you a threat to my family - then all bets are off. If disturbing/shouting doesn’t make them run off I would quite happily impale them on a variety of sharp and pointy implements.

 

[Sasaferrato]

I may have missed it, but I don't recall anyone boasting about beating anyone to death, only that they would take action to defend themselves and/or family, which is well within the law.

Bloody right. One benefit of being an ex-soldier is that violence is no stranger. You have been trained what to do, and conditioned to do it efficiently. A handy thing really.

 

[existentialist]

In the hands of a trained killer, any domestic implement can be used as a deadly weapon - biro, scrabble tile, post it note. I'm not saying I am that trained assassin, The Guild insists on secrecy. But, y'know, just think on.

Has to be one worth 4 points or more. Or so I've heard

 

[Smokeandsteam]

The perp has been identified. He was wanted for an earlier job on another elderly person according to this:

Burglar, 37, 'stabbed to death in pensioner's home' was on 'most wanted' list

 

[cupid_stunt]

The perp has been identified. He was wanted for an earlier job on another elderly person according to this:

Burglar, 37, 'stabbed to death in pensioner's home' was on 'most wanted' list

Looks like he was pond life.

*shrugs*

 

[craigxcraig]

Like one or two others above, if confronted at ''a time" or "someone in my gaff, not invited" I'd make a decision quite quickly as to what I do next - quote frankly this hand wringing is blx.

 

[scifisam]

Like one or two others above, if confronted at ''a time" or "someone in my gaff, not invited" I'd make a decision quite quickly as to what I do next - quote frankly this hand wringing is blx.

What hand wringing though? Has anyone said that people shouldn't defend themselves? They haven't.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

What hand wringing though? Has anyone said that people shouldn't defend themselves? They haven't.

But it makes you a DM reader. Lol!

 

[craigxcraig]

Up thread, there were comments about let's wait and see etc (I've not read all of it), though it appeared to be what it was, a burglary gone wrong.

 

[scifisam]

Up thread, there were comments about let's wait and see etc (I've not read all of it), though it appeared to be what it was, a burglary gone wrong.

That doesn't mean people were saying the bloke shouldn't have attacked a burglar. They were just saying that at that point we didn't know for sure that's what happened, which is why the burglary victim still had to be questioned.

 

[craigxcraig]

Ah, agreed.

Of course due process is now followed.

 

[Wilf]

I'd say there's at least a 40% chance a guardian commentator will make a link to brexit over the next 24 hours.

 

[HoratioCuthbert]

I'd say there's at least a 40% chance a guardian commentator will make a link to brexit over the next 24 hours.

6!

 

[editor]

I live near where Tony Martin shot a burglar some years ago, and a lot of people thought he deserved a medal rather than prison. If this guy did stab a burglar good luck to him.

So burglary = punishable by instant death, yes?

 

[William of Walworth]

Apart from all the burglaries and subsequent vigilante reaction?

Surely not the word "vigilante"!!!!

 

[Smoking kills]

So burglary = punishable by instant death, yes?

Until 1861 killing an intruder at night was perfectly legal, iirc.

 

[agricola]

I'd say there's at least a 40% chance a guardian commentator will make a link to brexit over the next 24 hours.

having a cloned David Miliband in every home would certainly reduce the rate of break-ins and criminal damage

 

[Raheem]

Until 1861 killing an intruder at night was perfectly legal, iirc.

Well, if it was good enough for 1860...

 

[Raheem]

having a cloned David Miliband in every home would certainly reduce the rate of break-ins and criminal damage

But it would massively increase the rate of abandoned properties and rough sleeping.

 

[nardy]

So burglary = punishable by instant death, yes?

Absolutely not. If I was woken by surprise and found a burglar downstairs, I'd switch on the light and say: "Sorry to disturb you, but as you've gone to the trouble of waiting up till silly o-clock before visiting me, and the further trouble of forcing my lock, to say nothing of taking the risk of me NOT coming down but quietly calling the police instead, and risking a prison sentence, then you must surely be in greater need than me. Sit down while I make a cup of tea for us both, then explain your circumstances so that we can come to some agreement upon the equitable re-distribution of my assets."

 

[editor]

Until 1861 killing an intruder at night was perfectly legal, iirc.

And what century are we in now?

 

[editor]

Absolutely not. If I was woken by surprise and found a burglar downstairs, I'd switch on the light and say: "Sorry to disturb you, but as you've gone to the trouble of waiting up till silly o-clock before visiting me, and the further trouble of forcing my lock, to say nothing of taking the risk of me NOT coming down but quietly calling the police instead, and risking a prison sentence, then you must surely be in greater need than me. Sit down while I make a cup of tea for us both, then explain your circumstances so that we can come to some agreement upon the equitable re-distribution of my assets."

Yes that's so funny. But again, do you think it's OK to murder a burglar, irrespective of whether your life is actually in danger? Do you think death is an appropriate response no matter what?

 

[cupid_stunt]

There's a lot more coming out about Vincent now, seems he was a career criminal with a history of targeting pensioners, not some opportunist addict looking to cover their next fix, but part of a pond life family gang.

His family's gang operated in Kent and south London and was jailed for a total of almost 29 years in 2003 after conning pensioners out of £448,180.

They would knock on doors and suggest homeowners had structural problems, promising to fix them for huge fees. The men would even escort their victims to the bank so they could withdraw the cash to pay for the work. Two of the family members made a woman in her 80s sign away her £150,000 property, according to reports. They all admitted deception charges at Croydon Crown Court.

Undeterred, Vincent was jailed again in 2009 after being convicted of defrauding an 80-year-old out of £72,000 for alleged roof repairs. His father, with whom he committed the crime, went on the run but was caught and jailed in 2011.

Career crook killed by pensioner 'didn't deserve to die', say family

Maybe this unfortunate situation will make his family and other associates think about a change in career.