- The burglar who was injured by Tony Martin after breaking
into his home is to sue the farmer for
- £15,000 compensation for loss of earnings, it emerged
yesterday.
-
- The man, who was shot in the raid in Norfolk, is seeking
the money because he claims he cannot find work, enjoy sex, or pursue his
martial arts hobby.
-
- Martin received details of the compensation claim last
week at Highpoint prison in Suffolk, where he is serving a five-year sentence
for killing the burglar's 16-year-old accomplice, Fred Barras, and wounding
the burglar. The surviving burglar suffered shotgun wounds to his legs
and groin.
-
- The man admits in the legal claim that when he travelled
to the farmhouse he "intended to burgle the property". But the
writ says that because of reading and writing difficulties he has "only
ever managed to find unskilled manual work" and is now "at a
disadvantage in the labour market" because of the injuries to his
legs.
-
- The writ is accompanied by a psychiatric report which
says the man feels "tearful, especially if he sees a film where someone
dies". He has also complained of being scared of fireworks and has
had to give up jujitsu and kick-boxing.
-
- He has obtained £5,000 of legal aid for his damages
claim, which could lead to Martin forfeiting his farm. Malcolm Starr, a
supporter of Martin, said the farmer had been "upset" by the
delivery of the writ so close to Christmas, which he will spend in prison.
-
- "This is laughable. The burglar is in a no-lose
situation," he said. "If he burgles you and takes something valuable,
the police will never find him. If you catch him in the act, he will sue
you."
-
- The burglar claims that he had become depressed and attempted
suicide after the shooting. He served 18 months of a three-year sentence
for his part in the attempted burglary. He was released last August and
returned home to Newark, Nottinghamshire. His solicitors told Martin in
June the burglar was suing. The farmer launched a counterclaim for damages.
-
- Martin's mother Hilary said yesterday: "It is absolutely
ridiculous that he is planning to do this. We are living in a country which
is crazy, with crazy laws and no idea about what is right and wrong."
-
- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2002
-
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4573016,00.html
-
-
- Comment
-
- Jim Mortellaro, PhD
- Jsmortell@aol.com
- 12-27-2
-
- This is a true story. I know it's true because I was
there.
-
- The town was Pound Ridge in Westchester County of New
York State. It's a
- rather wealthy area, with zoning which precludes neighbors
less than (at the
- time) a half mile nearby. It was the early 70's and the
area did not have
- it's own police department. Instead, the area was patrolled
and policed by
- the New York State Police, a paramilitary elite corps
of dedicated men. Back
- then.
-
- I was an auxiliary police officer learning the ropes
in that area, having
- served in New York City for some years. We got a call
from an elderly man and
- his wife, that a man had broken into his home via the
front door, and before
- he got to the master bedroom, the owner shot the perpetrator
with his
- shotgun, which he kept nearby.
-
- When we arrived, the hallway was rather messy with blood
and body pieces all
- over the place. A .12 gauge shotgun was used with full
choke, which the man
- used for shooting trap. The perp was hit from about five
feet away whilst he
- was approaching the elderly couple's bed. Boom! He was
down and out for the
- count. For good.
-
- When the Trooper completed his report and all the forensics
were done, the
- Trooper remarked (and this is a direct quote I shall
NEVER forget) ...
-
- "Next time, drag the perpetrator out of your house,
so he doesn't bleed all
- over your carpeting."
-
- Unquote.
-
- The moral of this story, the moral of this song, is that
one should never be,
- where one does not belong. So to avoid trouble, pull
the triggers double, and
- make sure you fire in a place what makes PERMANENT trouble!
-
- Dr. James S. Mortellaro, Ph.D.
-
-
-
- Comment
-
- From Stephen Grant
- 12-27-2
-
- Greetings Jeff, The story about the burglar who is taking
his intended victim to court, to gain his farm as compensation for his
injuries caused to his legs while burglarizing the victims residence, was
appalling. How could he? Britain is even more mad than the U.S. if he wins!
This is worse than the immigrant who assaulted churchgoers in Scotland
a couple of years back by hacking at their arms and faces with a medieval
sword as they departed the building after attending services. He was let
go after just a year, because he was not responsible for his actions due
to insanity, while his victims have lifetime, mutilating injuries. Is the
West dead? Thank God for your news service. Stephen Grant
|
