Can you stab someone in the back in sef-defence?

[jake-the-peg]

http://news.bbc.co.uk...nd/london/8546678.stm

[daffy654]

Of course you can. Maybe the attacker turned his back at the last minute when he realised his victim was armed and prepared to defend himself.

[ummmm]

Yes. People don't just strand still. He could have stabbed out just as the burglar turned. It doesn't say where on his back and it certainly doesn't say he was fleeing.

3 men against one...well done him.

[Sandy-Wroe]

If this man hadn't defended himself he might have found himself in the same position as the two French students who were tortured for their PIN numbers, then murdered, by drug addicts.
This should never have come to trial.

[naomi24]

Yes. If people break into your home they take their chances and they deserve all they get.

[jake-the-peg]

So Naomi

If a couple of teenagers a boy and a girl broke into my house

I could beat them senseless - torture the boy to death and keep the girl locked in my cellar for three years and rape he whenever I felt like it?

That'd be whatever they get right?

[cherrychapstick]

jake what would you do if someone broke into your house while you were in it ,sit down and talk to them?? i don't think so

[missnemesis]

Well jake if they weren't there you couldn't do it to them so it's the chance they take.

[cherrychapstick]

remembering the intruder was armed !!

[jackthehat]

Nice to see you keeping things in perspective, again, jake !?!

The scenario you suggest is ludicrous.

However, I believe that any intruder contemplating 'breaking and entering' leaves a substantial amount of his/her rights at my garden gate............right beside his/her option of turning round and walking away !

[naomi24]

Well I suppose if you were completely nuts you might do that, Jake. As I said, people who break into other people's homes take their chances.

[Androcles]

Hey Jake, give us your address, me and the boys will be round...... Soft touches are always welcome....

[jno]

that sounds like defence of your property, which is a different concept from self-defence (and not one which the law recognises as a defence, as far as I know). So people are happy that the law should not apply in private homes? Interesting thought.

[Sqad]

jake....bit theatrical........not at like you.

If someone breaks in I do not know and certainly don't care whether or not they are teenagers or indeed whether or not they are armed my reaction will be to defend life and territory by whatever means.

[bobjugs12]

Jake, that sounds like fun. Have you still got the teenagers or did you have to get rid of the bodies? Can I come round to play with your new toys?

[jake-the-peg]

I'm trying to get people to admit that there are limits to what you can do to someone who has broken into your house.

This is all about people who are unable to admit to shades of grey

The moment they admit that there are limits to the vengence you can reek they are drawn into a debate about degree and that seems to offend their black and white worlds.

So lets start again - are there limits to what I can do to a captured burglar?

Can I torture a 14 year old I catch having broken into my home?
What about a 17 year old?
What about If I just break all his fingers?


In the end you come down to what is reasonable force

[ummmm]

3 men against 1. Are you seriously saying that you wouldn't think your life was in danger and grab a weapon. It's animal instinct.

[Androcles]

So if I break into your home, what is the level of reasonable force I can apply to you to make you do as you are told and hand over all your valuables, without giving you cause to react violently?

[missnemesis]

Why should it matter whether s/he is 14 or 17? They're burglars if they get hurt in the act of breaking and entering then so be it.

[Sqad]

jake....quite....we all know that it depends upon "reasonable force" but to whom? The burglar? the victim? the law?

At that moment when one confronts a "stranger/burglar" in one's home then the victim will have to decide what is "reasonable force" and afterwards the law will have to agree or disagree with the decision of the victim taking all things into consideration.

Mine?....I would get the first blow in.

[cherrychapstick]

i wouldn't torture them killing is a possibility ,the second they come through my door then that was their choice to come through it not mine ,so i think it would be my choice to defend myself