British examine Salem (Oregon) shooting

Statesman Journal (Salem Oregon) ^ | July 5, 2003 | DENNIS THOMPSON JR.

[hiho hiho]

Four years ago, a British farmer shot and killed a 16-year-old burglar on his property and wounded an older accomplice.

The wounded intruder, a career criminal with 34 convictions, served 18 months for the burglary.

The Norfolk farmer, a recluse named Tony Martin, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

[July 4th]

The teenager had broken into Stordahl’s garage and started a fire, then advanced on the homeowner even after being warned to stop. An autopsy revealed that Choate had a blood alcohol content of 0.31, almost four times the legal limit to drive. Family and friends say he might have been confused and thought he was in his own garage.

Ok...I don't know the whole "Choate" story here, but I'm having a hard time finding the problem here. If the homeowner was in danger, the BAC of the perp shouldn't matter. Neither should what his family and friends say that they think he was doing there.

[OldFriend]

As if we don't suffer enough with the alphabet channels, the NYT, the Wasington comPost and CNN, now we have the BBC in our faces too??

[Tijeras_Slim]

Being drunk is no excuse.

[stands2reason]

Anybody got a link to the "Choate" story?

[csvset]

Here's a link.

Teen who was shot and killed Saturday identified

[AF68]

If the BBC is doing this investigative journalism, you can be assured that the report will be a dishonest, left-wing hack job.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Says he also started a fire. Even if he was a relative in his own home, he was obviously a danger. How many times do we hear about some kid wiping out their family, etc. Just the other day was a story about a teenage boy who shot his parents and set fire to the home to cover it up.

[Mackey]

“There is a lobby in this country that says the average man has the right to protect himself , and damn the cost,” Johnston said.

I also fail to see the problem. Guess I don't think like an "over-civilized" Brit... I believe that home invaders have zero rights during the commission of their crimes-- in other words, fair game. Once again I thank God my ancestors had the guts and initiative to come to America!

[jimtorr]

In the local incident, a grand jury decided that homeowner Linn Stordahl was justified in shooting Anthony Choate on April 19.

Thank the Lord that Oregon is not yet like England in this regard.

[bruoz]

"The teenager had broken into Stordahl’s garage and started a fire."

Here in Florida arson is a forcible felony. The use of deadly force by citizens is justified to stop or prevent a forcible felony.

[Lady Jag]

A question that's a little off-side, can anyone tell me the correct pronunciation of that name "Choate"?

[VOA]

Here in Florida arson is a forcible felony. The use of deadly force by citizens is
justified to stop or prevent a forcible felony.

Oklahoma has something similar; the nickname given to the law is:
"The Make My Day Law".

[rontorr]

thanks for the ping, I have always been disgusted when hearing about this story on the news, they are always defending the guy who got shot. disgusting as the angela davis case, where someone clearly did the wrong thing, got shot, and friends and family act like they were saints and the person they were attacking never should have thought they needed to defend themselves.

[VOA]

An autopsy revealed that Choate had a blood alcohol content of 0.31,almost four
times the legal limit to drive.

The shooter should have gotten a reward.
Say something like 5 or 10 percent of the future liver transplant this guy
would probably have been provided at taxpayer expense while incarcerated.

[glock rocks]

The burglar who survived, Brendon Fearon, plans to sue Martin for the leg wound he suffered.

yet another compelling argument for:
two to the chest, one to the head.

[xp38]

Just a guess but using the word inchoate as a guide I would say it's pronounced ko-ate.

[Carry_Okie]

“The issue so troubled Tony Blair that he wondered in a memo, which was leaked, whether (the) Labour (Party) was losing touch with public opinion,”

Violation of the man's natural right to self-defense apparently didn't bother Tony at all. Nope, what mattered to Tony was re-election.

[OrangeDaisy]

I have hearded it prounounced with a hard "CH" as in "choke" and a soft "CH" as in "show". The O is always long, and the A and E are always silent.

In other words
Chote
Shote

I would provide diacritical marks, but I can't figure out how.

[fourdeuce82d]

Actually, had a teacher who pronounced it to rhyme with "Oat"