QBREES9

You're dead.


'You're Dead,' Minn. Man Said After Shooting Teen Intruder - Yahoo

SloMotion

They don't have "castle doctrine" in Minnesota? The recording complicates the case somewhat ... closed-circuit surveillance cameras on the points-of-entry would have sufficed, IMO ... once they're inside, they're fair-game in Michigan, regardless ... a little heartless, I know, but if you don't want to get shot, stay the heck outta' other people's properties, eh?

QBREES9

a little heartless, I know, but if you don't want to get shot, stay the heck outta' other people's properties, eh?

I agree. Their has to be more to this story.

TheOak

He was convicted by that jury... This had to be a case of he who had the better lawyer won.

As tragic of an even as it was, and even though its fairly easy to tell Smith set those kids up and took sick pleasure in what he did...

At the end of the day there is nothing good to come out of breaking into someones home. He wasn't convicted for killing them, he was convicted for the way he did it and to me that equates to going to prison for style and not action.

Seems to me like there were crappy lawyers and sh1tty jury instructions given.

As far as I know, castle doctrine covers the home owner unless people were shot in the back trying to leave or managed to cross the property line and were shot outside of the property.

SapperSaint

Don't put audio recording equipment in your house.

If someone breaks in, just shoot them.

What is getting Mr Smith in trouble, is the audio portrays the two teens, as helpless victims in a crime they commited. The jury had to have gotten blinded to the fact that the teens commited a crime as soon as they entered the mans residence. The teens didn't get to complete their crime due to being shot.

The lawyer representing the teens, made sure the focused of the jury was turned around to make the teens out to be the victims.

I don't fault the guy for what he said or what he did. Enough is enough, and the man was at his wits end with the crime being taken out on him.

"We are number one. All others are number two, or lower."
-The Sphinx
http://blackandgold.com/groups/28-ou...tsman-s-corner

QBREES9

as helpless victims in a crime they commited, Really they were commiting crime. To Dam Bad.

Crusader

Burglary is a crime, a serious one, no doubt about it. I have a hard time however justifying what was pretty much a execution. If you have shot the burglar and disabled him or her thats fine. But “a good, clean finishing shot.” seems pretty excessive.

TheOak

Contrary to popular belief there are no style points for taking a life. While arguably twisted things were said they were fairly quick and painless. Would you prefer he said nothing, but shot them both in the liver and let them bleed out? Most people say things in rage before pulling the trigger on someone that has broken into their home.. Its out of anger, shock, however you want to categorize it.

If there were evidence that he some how lured them into his home, I would agree, but there isn't. He knew they were going there...hence the audio equipment and the premeditated conviction.

The teens were cousins and that wasn't their first burglary, and its possible they had hit his house before.
Robbery victim: If teens hadn't broken in, they'd be alive - KMSP-TV

TheOak

Two more killed in a house they had robbed before
Family, Friends Of Dead Home Invaders Say "They Didn't Deserve To Get Killed." - Bearing Arms

I grew up in a different time.. I was very young 6-7 years old when I can remember seeing my first No Trespassing, or Trespassers will be Shot sign when hunting...

In regards to "deserving"... Do the elderly deserve to feel terrorized because some teens broke into their home? Understand one thing, when you take a life, you have to live with that.. Every morning, every day, every night..

A little story about kids today: My 22 year niece, "I need a gun in my home, in case someone tries to break in"

A month later
My wife walks out side and sees 3 pittbulls running through the yard, my niece says "don't shoot them, call animal control".

I looked at my niece and said:
"Calling animal control works as well as calling people control. By the time they arrive, no one is left to say where they went. If your willing to shoot a trespassing human before a trespassing animal...... There are some misaligned priorities."

This is how I see it, if you have come on to my property, broken into my home, are attempting to take from me and my family, Your humanity is gone. You get the animal treatment.

QBREES9

You live by the Sword, you die by the Sword.