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.

[old man]

8 hours 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.

Simply the way of the world maybe? Greater freedom by having nothing to be taken away?

[Rim Fire]

9 hours ago, Vince Green said:

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

I think he couldn't claim self defence as he shot him in the back so therefor they was running away i think  

n the evening of 20 August 1999, two burglars – 29-year-old Brendon Fearon and 16-year-old Fred Barras, both from Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire^[9] – broke into Martin's house.^[10] Shooting downwards in the dark with his shotgun loaded with birdshot, Martin shot three times towards the intruders (once when they were in the stairwell and twice more when they were trying to flee through the window of an adjacent ground floor room). Barras was hit in the back and both sustained gunshot injuries to their legs. Both escaped through the window, but Barras died at the scene.^[3] Martin claimed that he opened fire after being woken when the intruders smashed a window. The prosecution accused him of lying in wait for the burglars and opening fire without warning from close range, in retribution for previous break-ins at his home.^[11]

[old man]

Not lies being spouted in court surely?

[Scully]

The shooting was a sad event for everyone concerned really. 
When you decide to step outside the law all manner of unforeseen circumstances can and do occur. 

[hushpower]

Was let down by the feds  didnt help that he lived on borderline with another force. Forces are focused on populated areas & motor ways i am led to believe. We have a simalar case on going Whaley Bridge   in the peak district. Both cases deceased and co were in the wrong breaking in to remote  farm houses.  Both cases so sad .