England: Man shot other man through the head on a dare ("Darwin" nominee)

BBC On-Line ^ | July 22, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 July, 2003, 14:13 GMT 15:13 UK

Man jailed for 'dare' shooting

A man who shot another man through the head for a dare has been jailed for life for his murder.

Talbot McVey, 52, of Southgate, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, admitted killing 38-year-old Adrian Hooper, of the same address, last November.

On Tuesday, Exeter Crown Court heard the fellow lodgers had been involved in a petty argument.

McVey said: "I could shoot you for that" - and claimed Mr Hooper had replied: "go on then."

No struggle

McVey went up to his room, armed himself with his .22 rifle, returned to the lounge and again said: "I could shoot you" - to which Mr Hooper repeated: "go on then".

McVey later told a social worker that he put the rifle against the side of Mr Hooper's head and pulled the trigger.

"I could see myself doing it but I could not stop myself," he said.

"There was no sign of a struggle," said prosecutor Richard Smith QC.

"McVey put the rifle to the side of his victim's head and pulled the trigger - the bullet went straight through his head and out the other side."

[yankeedame]

"McVey put the rifle to the side of his victim's head and pulled the trigger - the bullet went straight through his head and out the other side."

Now I ask you, is this a straight line or what??

[mhking]

McVey said: "I could shoot you for that" - and claimed Mr Hooper had replied: "go on then."

If you insist....

HMB/Bizarre PING....

If you want on or off this list, FReepmail me!

FYI: This has fast outgrown it's original "charter" and become a home for the truly bizarre. An alternative saying/phrasiology is being sought (and suggestions are very welcome!). Also, like it's "cousin list" the B/C list, it has become a high-volume list.

---

I'm leaning toward "Just damn," on the suggestion of quite a few folks. I won't make a decision until Sunday. (And thanks to all of you for sending your suggestions!)

[bedolido]

If this was a valid dare and had witnesses present, they should let him go... it's only fair (if you're 8 years old)

[Conspiracy Guy]

Did the bullet even slow down or did it gain velocity?

[jjbrouwer]

McVey went up to his room, armed himself with his .22 rifle, returned to the lounge and again said: "I could shoot you" - to which Mr Hooper repeated: "go on then".

Be careful what you wish for...

[Cincinatus]

Yeah, but it wasn't a "triple-dog dare", was it?

[gov_bean_ counter]

An old Monty Python skit created a British gameshow featuring people who would take up a stupid dare.

[jpl]

I thought that firearms were pretty much outlawed in Great Britain, and that only we Americans would engage in behavior this barbaric.

[Semper Paratus]

What's going on in England this summer?
First the catapult, now this.

[ClearCase_guy]

Sounds like assisted suicide to me.

[Zavien Doombringer]

technically, if the barrel was right up against the head, the pressure coming out of the barrel ahead of the bullet would create the hole before bullet impact, thust anything soft on the working end would have "moved" out of the way, thus the bullets only friction would have been the bone on the other side. This would have caused a significant decrease in velocity, because of the drag produced by the now mangled projectile.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Hand guns, not rifle and shotguns...

[WestPacSailor]

Actually, I think any handgun, and any rifle larger than .22 is illegal. Shotguns, .22s, and collectible arms are strictly regulated and require extensive paperwork and a license to even possess.

[Zavien Doombringer]

The last I heard, Hunting was still allowed in England...

[Conspiracy Guy]

Unfortunately I know more about it than I care to share. I was suggesting that the guy was a bit of an airhead. But my post was a little sloppy.

[jjbrouwer]

I'm sure if he'd shot this guy through the ear, the bullet would have come out of the other ear...

[WestPacSailor]

It is allowed, but only shotguns, and only with permission of the landowner.

Exception is fox hunting, which is seen as the sport of the elite, landed gentry. Even fishing is highly regulated and taxed.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Saw your profile, I can see you may know more than you care to share. Thank you for serving!

[grobdriver]

technically, if the barrel was right up against the head, the pressure coming out of the barrel ahead of the bullet would create the hole before bullet impact

Oh come one!
The bullet is compressing air along perhaps 18-20 inches in a cylinder 2 tenths of an inch across and accerating to a velocity of 1200-1400 fps... Maybe 50 lbs/sq inch?
All the pressure is on the back side of the bullet.
.....
BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[Zavien Doombringer]

Yes, the largest amount of pressure is on the backside of a bullet. Try shooting with a plug in the barrel, what happens? The bullet cannot escape, the increased pressure at the front compresses faster exploding the barrel...