After a crumby ending, donated dough rolls in for 2 cookie deliverers

Denver Post ^ | 02/06/05 | Electa Draper

[Dog Gone]

The neighbour is obviously a witch, and deserves much of the scorn she is recieving, but the girls could be dead right now too, legally killed in self defense.

Bullcrap. Totally wrong. The Colorado Criminal Code provides no such thing.

[SpyGuy]

Wow, how nice of you to insert the concept of 'rape' into this story.

I didn't insert the concept of rape into this story. I used an extreme off-topic example to illustrate the absurdity of JumpDrive's argument of, "Well, I like to do it so it must be OK."

Some people are immune to the subtle logic of normal rational debate and need to be intellectually "hit over the head" with extreme examples before they begin to comprehend the failings of their arguments.

[Balding_Eagle]

A few years back, there was a case in Colorado Springs where a boyfriend started pounding on the front door of a ?former? girlfriend during daylight hours. She ran upstairs, leaned out of a window and shouted at him to stop, when he opened the screen door (he did not reach the next door) she blasted him.

It took a fairly long investigation, because he was outside of the house itself, but she was not charged. Her position was that she was in fear for her safety.

[freedumb2003]

We live in a culture that encourages and rewards fear litigation.

[Awestruck]

well that clarifies that point then, as it wasn't in the first story I read.. I would love to hear that call to the sheriff though.. personally 8:30 is the latest I let my children call on the neighbors, but this lady has some mental problems..

[freedumb2003]

They started this cookie delivery at 9:00 yet didn't arrive at this woman's house until 10:30...

Plenty of time to go to the Smith's house, knock off the philandering husband, and still make it back for the choir practice. </Law & Order>

[kittymyrib]

Are some of you aware that in the mountain west it doesn't get dark until well after 9:00PM in the summer? It's not as though they came in the middle of the night. I hope this witch of a neighbor does not need any kind of help after dark. I have a strong hunch her neighbors will be permanently unavailable.

[Dog Gone]

You have to be REASONABLY in fear for your safety in Colorado and can use deadly force ONLY if a lesser degree of force is inadequate.

In no way do the facts of this case justify deadly force under Colorado law.

The girls knocked and ran.

Even if the homeowner was startled, there was no reasonable fear for her safety. We don't even have to discuss whether a lesser use of force was justified. The girls ran.

Had this witch used deadly force, she'd face murder charges under the undisputed facts in this case.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Glad to see a happy ending for the girls. This case reminds me of my time on a jury. The woman who was the Plaintiff just basically sued everyone as her hobby. Her bank. Her kids. Her neighbors. Her hairdresser. Etc.

We found the Defendant innocent, and made that looney lady pay all court fees for both sides.

It was my one shining moment dispensing justice, and it felt good! :)

[knews_hound]

.

[flada]

Your case is a bit different. There's a guy on the woman's porch who is trying to force entry. She warned him to stop. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a history of violence which she used to validate her claims of "fear for her safety."

The Durango story is missing all of these elements.

[Balding_Eagle]

Based on the history of the homeowner, it sounds like she had reason to fear for her safety. The reasonableness of her fear can be argued, but in the heat of the moment, I'd side with her safety.

As to the amount of force, at my door, at that time of day, and pounding as it was described, I'd advise the pounders to make sure their will is up to date. Would I shoot? It'd be a close call. Would it be a justifiable defense? I know I'd be there to argue my side of things.

[Dog Gone]

If your interpretation is right, don't go knocking on anyone's door in Colorado. They could blast you dead for doing it, just because they're a freaking coward.

And you'd defend them for doing it (but you couldn't because you're dead).

[Fiddlstix]

[Balding_Eagle]

When my comments are editorialised to say things I didn't say, I know I've won the debate.

[Jrabbit]

Sounds like the nervous nellie might have to spend that $930 on attorney fees for her hubby. What a gnat. They won in court, yet he's making harrassing phone calls?

I think the story that the "victim" is telling is suspect. Sounds embellished to me.

[Dog Gone]

Congratulations! Can I watch you put on your crown?

[Balding_Eagle]

LOL! No crown here, and you're welcome at my house anytime. Just don't pound on the front door in the middle of the night, we'd all hate to lose a good Freeper!

[sdpatriot]

if you di cal this judge. tell him thanks for siding with the property owner for me would ya? thanks. we need more pro-property owner judges.

[stands2reason]

You're lucky you're not a newbie. You'd get banned like the other fella that challenged her.