Quote:
Originally posted by Epona:
But then you wonder, what motivated that use of excessive force? Was it fear, self-preservation, or anger? I would be angry if someone broke into my place, but anger shouldn't (in an ideal world) be the motivation behind this action. Was there a point when Newton realised he wasn't going to be in danger from the kid but carried on beating him anyway? That, IMO, would be wrong. I guess we'll probably never know.
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This is obviously a gray area - it will be difficult for any judge or jury to determine intent, given the provocation of someone breaking into your property (unless the defendant has a previous record of violence).
However, let's not lose sight of the fact that the gray area would have been irrelevant if the burglar hadn't been there in the first place. What you reap, you must sow.