Rare robbery case brings cries of racism

mimo2005 · 11-15-2007, 07:08 PM

LAKEPORT, Calif. - Three young black men break into a white man's home in rural Northern California. The homeowner shoots two of them to death — but it's the surviving black man who is charged with murder.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071116/...hVGhF29sRH2ocA

**EnglishPaul** · 11-16-2007, 11:03 AM

What a great law that is. It may have made sense if one black guy had sent the other 2 to rob a house where he knew they would be shot, but considering they all went in, its the wrong law to apply.

He should be done for the robbing and assault offenses though. And perhaps a trial by a mixed jury would not be a bad idea.

cstr20cstr · 11-22-2007, 09:04 AM

I wonder if these same civil rights groups would have called it racist if it was the other way around ?

Probably not..........

**sobeit** · 11-22-2007, 09:20 AM

several states have the same law. If a person is killed during a commission of a crime, whether it be one of the criminals or bystander, then the surving criminal would be charged with murder. Proscution under that law is not as rare as the article states. Theres been many cases involving similar laws.

I agree with the law - nothing racist about it. I think those who are crying racist are really the racist.

**EnglishPaul** · 11-22-2007, 09:46 AM

I'm actually all for the suspension of many rights when people break the law. To me, if you get shot robbing someones house, it was a simple choice: don't break in, don't get shot. It is a bit difficult to blame the houseowner.

However, this law seems absurd. It seems to exist to prosecute someone who in effect sends someone to their death. A kind of murder by incitement. That makes sence in limited cases, but in cases like this it is absurd to label a co-robber as a murderer. They may risk their own life by entering the property, but to accuse them of sending their partner to death is wrong; the dead partner chose the risks.

If I was rockclimbing and I fell off, it would be tragic and my fault. If I was rockclimbing with a friend and I fell off, it would be tragic and my fault (assuming he was not negligent in his role). It would not be right to charge him with my murder. And yet my understanding is that that is what this law would do. He was with me in an activity that had a possible fatal consequence, therefor he was complicit in my death, thus murder!
Great!

11-15-2007, 07:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
mimo2005 Manager, The Relaxation Room/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 10,388 OS: xp	Rare robbery case brings cries of racism LAKEPORT, Calif. - Three young black men break into a white man's home in rural Northern California. The homeowner shoots two of them to death — but it's the surviving black man who is charged with murder. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071116/...hVGhF29sRH2ocA __________________ TSF has outgrown its server, again. Please help "Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo"

11-16-2007, 11:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
EnglishPaul Still no avatar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sheffield Posts: 878 OS: XP SP2	Re: Rare robbery case brings cries of racism What a great law that is. It may have made sense if one black guy had sent the other 2 to rob a house where he knew they would be shot, but considering they all went in, its the wrong law to apply. He should be done for the robbing and assault offenses though. And perhaps a trial by a mixed jury would not be a bad idea.

11-22-2007, 09:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
cstr20cstr Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 309 OS: xp	Re: Rare robbery case brings cries of racism I wonder if these same civil rights groups would have called it racist if it was the other way around ? Probably not..........

11-22-2007, 09:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit Mentor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 3,715 OS: windows/linux	Re: Rare robbery case brings cries of racism several states have the same law. If a person is killed during a commission of a crime, whether it be one of the criminals or bystander, then the surving criminal would be charged with murder. Proscution under that law is not as rare as the article states. Theres been many cases involving similar laws. I agree with the law - nothing racist about it. I think those who are crying racist are really the racist.

11-22-2007, 09:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
EnglishPaul Still no avatar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sheffield Posts: 878 OS: XP SP2	Re: Rare robbery case brings cries of racism I'm actually all for the suspension of many rights when people break the law. To me, if you get shot robbing someones house, it was a simple choice: don't break in, don't get shot. It is a bit difficult to blame the houseowner. However, this law seems absurd. It seems to exist to prosecute someone who in effect sends someone to their death. A kind of murder by incitement. That makes sence in limited cases, but in cases like this it is absurd to label a co-robber as a murderer. They may risk their own life by entering the property, but to accuse them of sending their partner to death is wrong; the dead partner chose the risks. If I was rockclimbing and I fell off, it would be tragic and my fault. If I was rockclimbing with a friend and I fell off, it would be tragic and my fault (assuming he was not negligent in his role). It would not be right to charge him with my murder. And yet my understanding is that that is what this law would do. He was with me in an activity that had a possible fatal consequence, therefor he was complicit in my death, thus murder! Great!