Judge backs farmer who shot burglar Victim support groups have called for clarification of the law after a burglar shot during a raid on a farmhouse was jailed for seven years while the farmer who fired at him was backed by a judge. Derby Crown Court heard how John Rae, 22, had targeted 73-year-old Kenneth Faulkner's isolated home three times last year before the pensioner hit back. Mr Faulkner's treatment contrasted with the prosecution of Tony Martin, who was jailed for the manslaughter of a burglar at his isolated Norfolk farmhouse seven years ago. Mr Martin served two-thirds of his five-year sentence for killing 16-year-old Fred Barras before being freed in July last year. His conviction provoked a tide of public sympathy and his supporters said the 58-year-old should not have been jailed for protecting his property. Victim support organisations called for clearer guidelines for householders on what constitutes "reasonable force" when protecting their homes against intruders. Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, backed Mr Faulkner. He said: "The law does not need changing, it just needs to be explained in layman's terms to the public about what reasonable force can they use to protect themselves, their families and their homes. "Every householder has the right to protect themselves and their property and the law says that they can use what force they believe is necessary. "The law is on the side of the householder, not the criminal."
Indeed, but the law clearly isn't always on the side of the homeowner tho tbf, the Tony Martin case proves that. IMO you should be allowed to shoot the bastards, and if they are killed, then tough shit, it's their own fault, they shouldn't be breaking in to your house. It's good that they have seen sense in this case though.
2 fucking right he should agree, tony martin got sent down for the same aoart from the burglar died, but it says that he was leoff for protecting his home and assets at a farm pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so if i had a gun, was gettin burgled, if i shot to hurt ie the legs, i'd still get raped by the shit judicinal system
Id do time for anyone caught in my house or anyone who did anything serious to a member of my immediate family ! There's no two ways about it really....
Yeah course it's worse, it's not something I would do, I would prefer a less brutal approach, but people have differing views with regards to what constitutes "reasonable force". I was a bit vague and about as subtle as a tonne of bricks admittedly....I mean....I dont have the same view if it's just someone causing a bit of nuisance on your land etc, killing someone for that sort of stuff deffo deserves time in jail. But, if people choose to be theiving toerags, breaking into your house etc, then they shouldn't be to suprised if one day someone doesn't take too kindly to that, in extreme cases involving guns and them being shot. Perhaps a rephrase of my initial post is in order... I don't condone KILLING people for breaking into your house. But I believe that you should have the right to use a licenced firearm against them if you believe there is a reasonable threat, or they are stealing your stuff, and be allowed to protect your land. IF an intruder dies as a result of this, then it's their own fault. They may deserve a punishment but they would never deserve to die. A "shoot to kill" policy should not be adopted, as there are surely better ways to deal with criminals. We don't want stuff like this becoming law as such anyway, but perhaps leniancy depending on the cirumstances (like in this case) is in order......the last thing we want is a vigilante state where people are being shot left right and centre for no real reason. Chris.
Nobody should have any right to use a firearm.... If you have an intruder you call the poilce, it may not be effective in all cases but its plain stupid to pick up a gun and shoot somone. We live in a country that thank god doesnt have a problem with guns, imagine if we had the right to buy one.
This case just makes a joke of the Tony martin one imo. :spangled: Stupid how one judge can say its ok and they other takes 5 years of your life in prison
I didn't say that everybody should have the right to buy one, I mean in a case of a farmer, they have a licenced firearm that they would typically use on foxes etc. It would be great if nobody could get hold of guns but it's never going to happen unforunatley. It depends though, it's likely to be in an isolated place if it's a farm, and for all he knew the could have weapons themselves. I wouldnt imagine he would have planned on shooting him, but it's one of those things where you can't be exactly sure what you would to unless it happened to you, if you know what I mean. To be fair, this country does have a pretty frightening escalating gun problem that really needs to be tackled. Thankfully it's not bad up here though, but likes of London and Nottingham etc, I hope that never happens here
