Posted on 09/14/2005 10:55:29 AM PDT by Puppage
Only inasmuch as a mugger defends himself from his victim.
"Zucker said the teen was on his way home from football practice around 5:30 p.m. when he inadvertently cut off the other driver."
This is the same thing as "inadvertantly shooting a gun at someone". A car is a lethal weapon. Most cars can actually take out more people more accurately than a standard shotgun. When you assault someone with a lethal weapon, either intentionally or by neglegence), and the attempt to throttle you. You kind of have a wash as to who has the moral high ground, IMHO.
Apparently it wasn't that obvious to you...
The argument will be broached that a person who has the time and strength to walk over to the window and deliver two punches has the time and strength to flee inside his home and call police.
He tried once to run into his house (didn't even slow down enough to turn off the engine of his own vehicle and take his keys with him). Munter tried to run him over and hit him with his car. At 300 pounds, I doubt he is fast enough to outrun a car but you expect him to try running away again (and making himself a target for another runover attempt) rather than defending himself.
Doesn't fit the definition of self-defense, but the kid was obviously under a lot of stress and definately didn't think that one punch would kill the man. He probably feels just awful about the whole situation though, and I can't imagine what positive good might come of putting him through the legal wringer.
Let's hope you use that surge of adrelnaline to pay attention while operating a motor vehicle as well, and not just deal with people you may very well injure with the vehicle by not paying attention.
If you don't cut people off, they tend not to follow you home in a rage.
Um, that's what he tried to do, and got hit.
Anyone willing to follow someone home and then hit them with the vehicle is willing to a lot.
I'd get him off on self defense, if I couldn't persuade the D.A. that this isn't worth prosecuting..
Indeed. I'm sctually surprised that the young man had the presence of mind not to put the guy's head between the car door and the car doorjamb and slam it a few times. That's what I probably would have done.
Right on! Of course it's self-defense...a running car is the same as a loaded gun in the wrong angry hands. This kid did the right thing..he was afraid for his life. He should learn to drive better, though.
In Texas, they would (and should) be smoking a side of beef and having a picnic to honor this young man.
In Jersey...you are not allowed to defend yourself. Only your estate can sue once you're dead. Their motto, if in doubt, you must die and we will punish the killer.
He was running into his house when he was hit by the car. There is no jury in the world who will convict this kid. Munter was a fool who let rage get the better of him and his foolish actions cost him his life.
I don't know about that. The story says the guy followed the kid to his house and ran him down as he was running to get into his house. Only after this, with the guy still in his car with it running, did the kid punch him twice. Seems to me the kid could easily say he had plenty of fear that the guy would keep coming after him. I mean, the kid is 6'6" and 300 pounds, an athlete (probably in decent shape at worst) and the guy STILL went after him. Add to that the fact two punches to the head would hardly constitute excessive force in either retaliation or defending one's self. I suspect the guy had some other medical problem that was made worse by the punches and his elevated blood pressure & adrenaline level.
To me, if the kid serves one day, it is an injustice. He should have his arrest removed from his record and left to live his life without any repercussions.
I will agree that if this had happened ANYWHERE below the Mason Dixon line, the kid would never been arrested. Hell, for that matter, dad would have probably capped the dude before he ever got into the driveway and even he probably wouldn't have been arrested!
No, I'm just not in the mood to argue with unarmed novices right now.
They showed the dead guy's wife on Philly TV last night and let's just say, we are probably better off with this guy out of the gene pool.
He had better be 6'6 300 lbs. That place is a gladiator academy.
When the teen arrived home, Zucker said, he ran across the street to his home from his still-idling truck, but he was not fast enough. With the teen's father watching, Munter drove into the youth, authorities said.
In addition to self defense, the "he needed killin" defense may apply.
Hopefully, you won't have to worry about living to that ripe old age, eh?
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he was most likely still in the street or his driveway when he was hit. I highly doubt he was in his house when he was struck by the car. And most lineman can run rather quickly, he could've easily just went into his house and called the cops.
Now had Munter exited his vehicle then all bets are off.
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