Murder Charges for Man Who Defended His Home

[ThomasJ]

Searched the forums and didn't see this posted, so...

Murder Charges for Man Who Defended His Home

oh, because the intruder he shot and killed was a cop. But it's a little more complicated than that.

http://www.totalcriminaldefense.com/...-drug-bust.asp

[adymond]

That is one fucked up situation. I know some will jump on this and say the cop got what he deserved. I can't take that stand. No knock warrents do serve a purpose in a very select set of circumstances. This did not meet those. I think a lot needs to be done to regulate those circumstances though.

This could have happened to any of us. Even if they are identifying themselves as police and wearing clearly marked uniforms in a situation where your home is violently being invaded you are sure to be confused. Add to that the fact this is happening in the middle of the night and I can not blame this guy for doing what he did. This is really sad. One man died in the line of duty due to some informant breaking in to a home and supplying false information. The informant needs to be prosecuted. The prosecutor needs to be removed. This poor guy needs to be let out of jail and should get some money and treatment because he will live the rest of his life knowing he took the life of another.

[ThomasJ]

I am entirely opposed to no knock warrants as well as the paramilitarization of the police.

[Tootie]

facts be damned.

This is the scariest part of this story. That no matter what the facts are the prosecutor wants to elevate the charge to capital murder and seek the death penalty.

[God's Country]

I realize it was a cop, but how can anyone be charged with murder one?
There was no premeditation. I think he will walk. It's sad that the prosecutor feels he/she needs avenge the death of the officer by sending this guy to jail for the rest of his life, and would seemingly prefer to execute him, based on what really did amount to a home invasion.

This is what happens when police departments are forced to show progress with all the money they receive to combat drugs. I have no doubt this guy wasn't an angel, but if some informant, whose only motivation was to save his own ass, was the major factor to obtain a no knock warrant against someone who doesn't even have a criminal history, the only crime committed was on the part of the governing authorities for not at least investigating why they were targeting someone without a criminal past.

The cop's were just doing their jobs. The Da should be investigating the informant, the investigators, and the judge that signed the warrant. It’s easy to blame the no knock warrant or the process used, but IMO the real problem is the lack of accountability. If those involved had to be concerned with repercussions of their actions (like we have to) this sort of thing wouldn’t happen.


It’s a very unfortunate scenario for everyone involved, and someone should have the balls to investigate the entire situation before charging this man with a crime.


edit:
lol
Reproductions
Repercussions
screwed by spell check

[Qtrborecrazy]

I wish I was on this mans jury. These so called informants in my opinion are like illegal wire tapes. You have no idea your being spied upon and Police need no warrants to snoop. What was the snitch promised? What was snitch caught doing that he himself might have been trying to get out of? Is mine next door neighbor a snitch? Bad info from the snitch may cost a honest man the rest of his life in jail or his life. The SNITCH should be the one facing the charges. By the way, my son-in-law IS a detective and when he hears something like this he says bad police work because the law wanted to make a quick BUST. Snitch did not know the difference between pot plant and a maple, how reliable is the idiot? From the story they made no buys from this man. My verdict NO GUILTY.


Qtrborecrazy

[jahwarrior72]

i think this whole situation is shitty. do i think he deservesd to walk? yes. do i think he will? no, unfortunately. he killed a cop, and in most courts, especially those in VA, that counts for a whole lot. he'll be lucky if he doesn't get life. i hope to G*D i'm wrong.

[mikepro8]

What I dont get is the fact that they are trying to charge him with murder, but he is in jail already... what is he in jail on?
Also, people forget what the purpose of bail is - a promise to appear. If he is in on the pissy amount of MJ in his home, the bail should be fair (if not nominal) and not astronomical.

Did the cop deserve to die? i would never say that. Did the cop have an obligation to check what the CI was telling him? I dunno - the cop may just have been helping another officer and knew little about the case.

Messed up.

[jtkratzer]

Wow, that's a tough case...sucks for all involved. I guess the lesson here is don't smoke pot at all.

[RandomTask]

Originally Posted by jtkratzer

...I guess the lesson here is don't smoke pot at all.

SHE didn't smoke pot.