"Stuart" wrote in message
...
In article ,
HeyBub wrote:

Not in the UK, you don't.

"Anthony Edward Martin (born 1944) is a farmer from Norfolk, England,
who in 1999 killed one burglar, and wounded another, who had invaded
his home. He was subsequently convicted of murder. As a result, he
became a cause célèbre for some, and polarised opinions in the UK"

It all depends on your definition of reasonable force.

IIRC one was shot in the back!

Without seeing all the evidence and reading the in depth court proceedings
it is difficult to pass judgement but there were reports at the time that
he had made public statements designed to lure them to his home so that he
could do away with them.

There have been other cases since where householders have used more
appropriate levels of force and after questioning have been released
without charge. Those cases, of course, don't make such headlines.

It is, I admit, a very grey area but, by and large, courts are tending to
favour the householder unless there is clear evidence that he has
overstepped the mark.

Punching a burglar to the ground, on the basis that you fear for your
safety is one thing but, however much you might feel it is your right to
do so, kicking his head in while he is lying there isn't.

He was rying to get up and reaching for the poker.


Anyway, back to woodworking.