[Memnoch]

Bashed guard kills attacker . Police expect to interview a female security guard in the next couple of days after a would-be thief was shot dead as he tried to flee with a bag of cash. . The guard, named by a Sydney newspaper as Karen Muratore, allegedly shot the robber as he tried to drive away with the weekend's takings from Sydney's Moorebank Hotel yesterday. . Ms Muratore, 40, who was bashed in the head with a knuckleduster, initially walked police through the incident but later refused to discuss the shooting until she sought legal advice. . Karen Muratore after being bashed in the head with a knuckleduster . "At this stage we have arranged an appointment to speak to her in the next couple of days when her barrister is available," Liverpool local area commander Terry Jacobsen said. . "Fundamentally, yesterday she was in no condition to be interviewed. . "She's taken the benefit of legal advice which she's entitled to, and we anticipate that we'll have an opportunity to speak to her with the counsel present in the next couple of days." . She was released from hospital yesterday. . Ms Muratore, who works for Elite Guard Force Security, was dressed in casual clothing and carrying the hotel's weekend takings in a backpack when she was attacked. . She has yet to be charged and Supt Jacobsen said it was too early to speculate whether she may face murder or manslaughter charges. . "I don't think it's reasonable at all to speculate on charges," he said. . "The police investigation will be comprehensive and at the end of that, when we know what the facts are, we'll make our decisions on a range of fronts." . . The earlier story... . July 27, 2004 . BLEEDING and bruised after being bashed and robbed, a security guard struggled to her feet and, in a lethal response, shot her attacker dead. . At 11am yesterday Karen Muratore was leaving the Moorebank Hotel in Sydney on a regular run for Elite Guard Force Security, carrying the hotel's takings in a backpack. . Dressed in casual clothes to appear inconspicuous and working alone, she was struck down with a knuckle-duster on the hotel steps by a thief who had been waiting in a stolen car. . Screaming at him to stop and with blood gushing down her face, the man, aged in his 20s, ignored her as he calmly walked to his vehicle to make a getaway. . Witnesses claim Ms Muratore then walked up to the closed door of the beige Ford Falcon and fired one shot through the side window, hitting the thief in the head. . Waitress Made Price, who was clearing tables at the restaurant in the hotel, watched horrified as Ms Muratore drew her gun at point-blank range and fired through the closed driver's window. . "At first we thought it was two junkies fighting," Mrs Price said. . "There was no struggle, nothing, he was just relaxed inside the car. When the bloke closed the door, the lady pulled out the gun ... and the lady just shot him. . "Maybe she was about 2m away." . Mrs Price said the thief did not have a chance to start the car. . Another witness heard Ms Muratore scream after she was set upon on the steps of the hotel, then a single gunshot. . Ernest Summerton was in the backyard of his McKay Ave home, which faces the hotel's carpark, and said: "I heard a woman screaming. It was a real long scream, then a shorter scream and then I heard a huge bang and knew it was a gunshot straight away." . Liverpool police Superintendent Terry Jacobsen said Ms Muratore was attacked in an attempted robbery, suffering facial injuries, at 11am. . He said police had not charged her and she had refused to talk about the incident at this stage. . Both Ms Muratore's pistol and a knuckle-duster were found at the scene. . Police were unable to determine the identity of the attacker, who was not carrying identification. . Ms Muratoe was released from Liverpool Hospital where she was treated for her injuries, with lawyers advising her not to talk to police. . She was followed to the hospital by police. . The Daily Telegraph contacted the Elite Guard Force Security head office yesterday but the owner refused to comment. An employee from the company said he had worked with Ms Muratore for at least two years. . "I can't really speak about it at the moment. I don't really have the details but she was bashed up pretty bad," the man, who did not wish to be named, said. . Source: www.news.com.au . Original article HERE

Without wishing to turn this into a gun debate (as this was a person legally entitled to bear arms) what do you guys think construe "justifiable force"? Was this guard entitled to shoot her attacker, considering it could be fair to assume that having already been robbed she was no longer in physical danger?

[ 07-27-2004, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]