Posted on 12/20/2009 7:30:08 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
Rochester, N.Y. —After nearly 20 hours of deliberating, a jury has found Roderick Scott not guilty of manslaughter.
Scott says he never meant to shoot and kill 16-year-old Christopher Cervini in April, when he caught the teenager and two others breaking into cars in his neighborhood.
Scott faced a charge of first-degree manslaughter. His trial in state Supreme Court began Nov. 30.
Scott says Cervini threatened him — and he fired his gun in self-defense....
Assistant District Attorney Julie Finnochio said she respects the verdict and recognizes that it was a difficult case.
"I just hope it's not a message to the community that you have the right to shoot a 17-year-old unarmed kid for trying to break into a car," she said.
But Scott's attorney John Parrinello hopes it does send a message.
"That people that are out there take responsibility like Rod did that night," Parrinello said. "As I said, he was being a good neighbor and in an instant your life can change."
(Excerpt) Read more at mpnnow.com ...
All he had to do was stay in the house and wait for the cops.
These kids weren't the usual city gun toting gang types.L
I really think there was reverse "racism" here.
I hope it does send a few messages. Time for Castle Doctrine laws, Don’t Tread on Me and Criminals will be shot on sight.
“I just hope it’s not a message to the community that you have the right to shoot a 17-year-old unarmed kid for trying to break into a car,” she said.
I dunno it might stop a number of break-ins from happening.
I just hope it's a message to the community that trying to break into a car is NOT a good idea.
As for whether he should have been acquitted, I have not read all the details and cannot be certain (although I lean toward trusting the jury on this one). I do think that even if he encroached on their "comfort zone" and even if his actions triggered an aggressive response from the criminals, it was okay for him to defend himself against that aggressive response. I have seen far too many career criminals who go through the revolving door of our "justice" system; these were criminals and I don't mind seeing a few of them go through the one-way door of the county morgue.
...so they could show up and make out a report after the kids left with the loot?
Just the usual outstanding citizen of the month auto burglary types.
Kids do stupid things...but these kids weren't physically threatening anyone....
You are a complete idiot. The police never arrive on time. After 11 grade I was working at a gas station. I had another customer call the police. My town was 4 square miles. Customer reported they had guns. It took our cop 30 minutes to arrive. That was 20 minutes after I tricked them and they left. You risk your life waiting on the police stupid.
That apparently isn't what the jury believed:
Scott said when he told the three people he had called the police, two of them stopped, but the third — Mr. Cervini — ran toward him.Scott testified he heard Mr. Cervini say: “I’ll get you or I’ll get him,” and that’s when Scott said he had a gun. That’s when he fired his gun, Scott said.
Scott said he went back to his house and told girlfriend to call 911 again, and checked on Mr. Cervini twice and didn’t see him moving. Then a police officer showed up, drew his gun and told Scott to put his hands in the air.
Just a matter of time until they meet up with a pitbull or something.
Hey, they might even stupidly try to break into the home of one of the embassy guards ~ they're all third-worlders with diplomatic immunity too.
I can hardly wait.
“”I just hope it’s not a message to the community that you have the right to shoot a 17-year-old unarmed kid for trying to break into a car,” she said.”
Why not. There’d be a lot less thieving going on.
“All he had to do was stay in the house and wait for the cops.”
Yeah. Good plan. I totally disagree. You want to be a thief, you get what’s coming to you.
There is truth in the quote, “When seconds count, the police are minutes away.”
“I just hope it’s not a message to the community that you have the right to shoot a 17-year-old unarmed kid for trying to break into a car,”
Why Not? First off what’s the punk doing breaking into my can and how am I suposed to know if he is armed or not.Especially with others helping him. If you and your friends are breaking into my car or home or anyother thing I own then you will have to take the final outcome.BANG problem solved.
Some yutes picked this time to drive around taking out windows with wrist rocket slingshots.
They shot out a window at one house. The home owner, a Senior Chief in the US Navy, grabbed his handgun and went outside.
Spotting a car down the block, (The yutes had pulled over), he approached, gun in hand.
The homeowner said he saw one of the yutes, "Make a move" , or something to that effect.
The homeowner shot one of the yutes killing him.
The homeowner was acquitted.
it's a regular Thug-Corridor btwn Rochester and Elmira/Ithaca now...
Next time something like this happens to you call the cops and call for pizza delivery. See which gets there first. Police do not prevent crimes, they come after the fact and take reports to turn over to insurance companies. Nice if you have insurance and no deductible. The best crime prevention is an armed and vigilant populace.
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