Posted on 12/23/2002 4:10:09 AM PST by Mark Felton
The burglar injured by Tony Martin after he broke into the farmer's home is suing him for £15,000 compensation for loss of earnings.
Brendon Fearon, 32, wants the compensation because he has supposedly been unable to find a job since suffering the gunshot injuries in the raid on Martin's Norfolk home, according to the Daily Mail.
Martin's mother, Hilary, described the idea as "absolutely ridiculous" and condemned laws that would allow Fearon to target her son for money in this way. Martin, 57, is currently serving a prison sentence for shooting dead Fearon's accomplice, 16-year-old Fred Barras, in August 1999 at his farm in Emneth Hungate.
In October last year, his conviction was reduced to manslaughter by the Court of Appeal and his sentence reduced to five years for the killing and three years for injuring Fearon. But his release has been delayed because of administrative problems with the Parole Board.
It emerged six months ago that Fearon, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, was to sue Martin and the farmer launched a counter-claim for damages. A supporter of Martin, Malcolm Starr, told the Daily Mail: "While Tony contemplates another Christmas in prison this man is getting on with trying to feather his own nest."
The writ gives a number of reasons for Fearon's claim, including his leg injuries, which prevent him finding work, concern about his "long-term sexual functioning" and becoming "very tearful" when watching a film in which someone dies.
He is also said to claim that he is afraid of fireworks, no longer enjoys ju-jitsu and kick-boxing and becomes depressed when TV shows contain gunfire.
What you say about legal costs may be so. What I suggest is "legal fees insurance" in some form or other, focused on self-defense siituations.
As I see it, the big danger here is someone facing a dangerous confrontation and allowing the "legal costs" thinking to cause him/her to hesitate. If faced with a threat yo your life don't hesitate - fire. The rest will be sorted out later and you will hopefully be alive, unharmed and able to deal with all the suit garbage.
This is one more reason why I just can't take the judicial system seriously. If he had a friggin' job before why was he robbing people? And if he can rob with impunity why the heck would he bother getting a job now?
Title 18 US Code chapter 13 Civil Rights;
Sec. 241. Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured - They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
Sec. 242. Deprivation of rights under color of law
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
...and sue them when he slips on an icy patch on the front walk.
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