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| Britain | ||
| Homeowner arrested after the burglar he confronted falls 30ft | ||
| 2007-08-09 | ||
The incident happened early on Monday when Patrick Walsh, 56, awoke to find the 43-year-old man rifling through his flat. They argued and the confrontation moved towards the rear window of the flat.
Mr Walsh phoned police and at around 6.30am officers found the man on the ground outside the smart Victorian apartment block in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, He was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. Officers arrested Mr Walsh on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and are trying to establish whether the intruder was forced out of the window. The arrest is expected to fuel arguments about the rights of householders to defend themselves against burglars. The issue has been high on the law and order agenda since farmer Tony Martin was jailed for shooting dead a burglar in 1999. Following the Martin affair the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers said any householder can use reasonable force to protect themselves or others, or to carry out an arrest or to prevent crime. Yesterday Mr Walsh, who was given bail pending further inquiries, refused to speak about the incident. But his solicitor Victor Wozny said: "My client is not at liberty to say anything because he is under police bail. "However we appreciate that the public view might be that this is a man arrested in his own home defending his own property." A neighbour said: "Police arrived in what seemed to be minutes and were there for the whole day. It's shocking to find out what has happened but people shouldn't break into other people's houses." Another resident said: "I presume we will have to respect the burglar's rights while his victim has the nightmare of court hanging over his head. It all seems so unfair." Mr Walsh was released on bail until November. If charged and convicted he could face a life sentence. | ||
| Posted by:lotp |
| #14 According to the Daily Telegraph , the anonymous footpad has passed on to the Big Joint in the wherever. |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-08-09 19:23 |
| #13 This could have been avoided had the homeowner kept his valuable more organized and posted adequate safety instructions. Lucky for the homeowner that the burglar is receiving high quality free health care. How will they determine the amount of lost wages for the surely pending civil suit? Hopefully, the burglar kept accurate records. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2007-08-09 19:15 |
| #12 What to do. DONT phone the police. Dispose of trash in local pond. Actually if you have a mulch pit, it would be better because of all the rich nutrients that might make a flower garden bloom brighter... |
| Posted by: BigEd 2007-08-09 12:43 |
| #11 Funny, isn't it, that the homeowner is identified by name, but the burglar's name was not mentioned. I hadn't noticed that. How sad. Apparently the Brits have decided they've had enough of civilization and prosperity, and are going to try barbarism and poverty now. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-08-09 11:38 |
| #10 At one time, dear Brit cousins, you were a light and inspiration to us. In a way, I suppose you still are. How sad that a tradition of justice and liberty that started back around the Magna Carta would end up in modern times as a bad scene from A Clockwork Orange. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-08-09 10:56 |
| #9 Funny, isn't it, that the homeowner is identified by name, but the burglar's name was not mentioned. One can imagine the professional prowler (or his estate) filing suit against Walsh for maintaning unsafe working conditions. |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-08-09 10:51 |
| #8 Seems to me that this sort of thing (arresting & prosecuting the victims in clear cases of self-defense) would stop if Brit juries would simply refuse to convict. CORRECTAMUNDO. Case in point here. Why did the father get off with 5 years probation for blowing away this scumbag molester? Simple. The prosecutor know no jury would convict. To hell with what an unjust law says, If enough folks stand up and stop taking this crap, things will change in short order. Even in Britain. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2007-08-09 10:46 |
| #7 Sounds like a lose-lose situation to me. The way things are going over there you will have to bend over and let the burglar bugger you, lest you "offend" the burglar and get a very serious charge against you. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-08-09 10:34 |
| #6 His mistake. "Mr Walsh phoned police and at around 6.30am" What to do. DONT phone the police. Dispose of trash in local pond. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2007-08-09 06:31 |
| #5 Just imagine if the burglar had been black or Islamic - it would be a media field day, and everyone would be calling Mr. Walsh a racist and university professors would band together to publish a newspaper ad in which they would make their strong denounciations known. |
| Posted by: gromky 2007-08-09 05:29 |
| #4 It all seems so unfair." .....Thats because it is "unfair." Mr. Walsh, please consider relocating to the United States. The motoring isn't nearly as civilized, but our homeowners rights are still somewhat protected. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-08-09 02:45 |
| #3 Why any arrest? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-08-09 02:23 |
| #2 Seems to me that this sort of thing (arresting & prosecuting the victims in clear cases of self-defense) would stop if Brit juries would simply refuse to convict. Do they do so and we never hear about it? Can the wanker judges somehow overrule an aquittal? Or do juries in general feel the need to enforce even the most stupid, irrational, and/or asinine laws? |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2007-08-09 01:18 |
| #1 Quiz: Who will get out first? The homeowner or the burgler? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-08-09 00:39 |