Posted on 11/05/2001 5:43:31 PM PST by havoc1us
Farmer's sentence reduced
Farmer Tony Martin's murder conviction for the shotgun killing of a teenage burglar has been reduced by the Court of Appeal to manslaughter.
Martin's sentence now stands at five years.
His 10-year sentence for wounding the burglar's accomplice has been cut to three years, to run concurrently.
The ruling has dashed hopes that Martin, who has served 18 months, would be freed immediately.
But he will be eligible for release on parole in about a year after serving half the new sentence.
The judges rejected argument that fresh evidence supported Martin's case that he acted in self-defence - using no more than "reasonable force" to protect himself and his property - and should be cleared of all guilt or at least be granted the right to a retrial.
They also dismissed complaints that Martin's original legal team, headed by Anthony Scrivener QC, concentrated on "tactics" and ignored or misunderstood vital evidence that could have resulted in a different verdict.
Sentencing him Lord Woolf, sitting with Mr Justice Wright and Mr Justice Grigson, said: "Martin used a firearm which he knew he was not entitled to have in a manner which was wholly unjustified.
"There can be no excuse for this, though we treat his responsibility as being reduced."
Story filed: 11:11 Tuesday 30th October 2001
This judge's words could soon be coming to a neighborhood near you. It's time to stand up for our rights before this happens!
1)- Four enemy squads manage to overpower four air-crews with simple knives. None of the pilots has a handgun to protect his ship, crew, and passengers, so terrible death and destruction happen, and everybody dies.
2- In shock, the American public is reluctant to fly until their safety is assured, and the Airlines immediately issue a .38 Special loaded with frangible ammo to every member in every cockpit of every Commercial aircraft, as they have a right to do. The flying-public is reassured, and Flights return to normal.
2)- Our Government prohibits the arming of Pilots, gives ga-zillions of our tax-dollars to the failing Airlines, and unloads millions-of-tons of cow-poop at every airport in the Country, slowing things to a crawl, and adding not a bit of safety. People re-arrange their lives and decide to drive instead, and the Airlines go bankrupt anyway.
Well, you know the answer, babe. The point is, that the very-simple-solution of allowing or requiring armed Pilots was absolutely denied, by both the democRATS and the Republicans, and even our President!
There is definitely an adgenda in Washington to limit firearms - I don't think it could be more blatent! The Airline Pilots Association demanded arms, 75% of Americans polled wanted the Pilots armed, but the Government, and our President said NO!!
I am thankful every day, that I am blessed to live in a Country where 300,000,000 firearms are owned by over 100,000,000 Americans! The Founding Fathers were brilliant-beyond-belief - :enemies, both Foreign and domestic!" Stay well and vigilant, sweetie....FRegards
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