Crime - Someone broke into a house
By snyderblog
@snyderblog (82)
United States
March 28, 2011 12:42pm CST
This totally infuriates me. In my local paper today, there was a guy that broke into a house. The elderly couple that was home at the time shot the man. He didn't die but fell back outside onto the porch. Now his family and him are suing for some large dollar amount for harm and medical bills. The paper said he might win because no one can prove he wasn't shot outside the house. It comes down to no one knows who is telling the truth. So, if the man was shot inside the house and remained inside the house until the police arrived, then it would have been an official break in and he couldn't have sued. This seems so wrong to me. Is this encouraging us to not defend our house and family until it is almost too late? Who knows what would have happened to the elderly couple if this bad man had made it in all the way. I am dissapointed in the laws on this one. Maybe someone can help me understand.
3 people like this
4 responses
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
29 Mar 11
I guess, the fact that the porch is inside the premises of the elderly couple should have been ground enough for them to refute the accusation. Why in the first place would he be there?
I think the law is quite lenient. It should have been the elderly couple to file a complaint even if the have shot him. They shot him in self defense. 
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
28 Mar 11
Oh my goodness this is horrible! Shame that the law sees self defense as a crime unfortunately I have heard so many similar stories like this and unfortunate for the true victims. Almost not worth defending ourselves but then had the elderly couple not protected themselves they would not be alive today. Laws are not adequately stated and enforced properly, as we see it.
@MAllen400 (829)
•
28 Mar 11
hi it seems that if someone burgles you you have a right to hit them but it must be "reasonable force" otherwise they can and will sue you. The question then is what is reasonable force! they win all ways dont they
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
28 Mar 11
This just proves that the law is always on the crimmals side. It is horrible that this elderly couple are going thru this at this time in their lives. A crimmal beaking into a home should not have a bit of rights let alone suing the couple. What has this world come too? Horrifying and now stupidity has taken over the legal system. 
