RIP Tony Martin

[Wymondley]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14352275/farmer-tony-martin-shot-killed-teenager-dies.html

I'll make no comment on the rights or wrongs of what he did, however it stemmed from his belief that the police could not or would not, protect him from criminals in his rural location.

It would seem 25 years on this is still the case, as witnessed recently not a million miles from Mr Martin's farm in the fens.

[Dougy]

RIP, 

he was pushed to the end of his tether and had the only way left he thought he could go. I dont think it will be the last time we see this happening. 

[Vince Green]

The contrast is, in America depending slightly on which State he was in and where on the property he shot them, it would have been legal.

But over there, even if it had come to court, no jury would have found him guilty.

But wasnt there some controversy about his case ? Because for the first time in British legal history his plea was that he acted in self defence. The police and Home Office had to try and block  this as a plea because it would open the flood gates for so many others to claim it in the future.

So, the alleged story goes that jurors were visited at their homes late at night by men in suits and told that Tony Martin had early onset dementia and would be cared for if he was found guilty. But if he was found not guilty he would be released back to his home and the Travelling community would kill him in retribution for what he did.

True? I have no idea but it is a story that has endured and it sounds all too believable to me

[JohnfromUK]

2 hours ago, Wymondley said:

I'll make no comment on the rights or wrongs of what he did, however it stemmed from his belief that the police could not or would not, protect him from criminals in his rural location.

Agreed.  He was failed by 'the system' that should protect us all and our properties from what amounts to a very large 'organised crime' sector.  It still goes on - an example being the Cambridgeshire 4 x 4 coursing activities - where once again the 'same section of the community' were effectively given freedom to ignore rules by police inaction.  Again the victims were countryside farming community members.

[Miserableolgit]

48 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

Agreed.  He was failed by 'the system' that should protect us all and our properties from what amounts to a very large 'organised crime' sector.  It still goes on - an example being the Cambridgeshire 4 x 4 coursing activities - where once again the 'same section of the community' were effectively given freedom to ignore rules by police inaction.  Again the victims were countryside farming community members.

I don't disagree with any of that.

Rest In Peace Mr Martin.