Only Jedi mind tricks can be used for self defence

Via Kevin at The Smallest Minority we have this:

A man who stabbed to death an armed intruder at his home was jailed for eight years today.

Carl Lindsay, 25, answered a knock at his door in Salford, Greater Manchester, to find four men armed with a gun.

When the gang tried to rob him he grabbed a samurai sword and stabbed one of them, 37-year-old Stephen Swindells, four times.

Mr Swindells, of Salford, was later found collapsed in an alley and died in hospital.

Lindsay, of Walkden, was found guilty of manslaughter following a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment.

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Sam Haworth said: “Four men, including the victim, had set out purposefully to rob Carl Lindsay and this intent ultimately led to Stephen Swindells’ death.

“I believe the sentences passed today reflect the severity of the circumstances.”

Three other men were charged with robbery and firearms offences in connection with the incident, which took place in February last year.

There has to be something more to this case than what was reported in the above. I mean there just has to be.

Oh no, wait a minute, I see it. The crook was stabbed four times. Yes, I suspect that is the reason why Mr. Lindsay is now under lock and key; because while minding his own business in his own home doing his own thing he had the temerity to stab a home invading criminal not once but four times.

Via Glenn Reynolds we are pointed to this news item which indicates that there was indeed more to this story. Mr. Lindsay may not have been the innocent homeowner I thought him to be and my comments on the matter seem somewhat over-egged.

I wonder why I and so many other bloggers jumped to similar conclusions?

Posted by John at March 24, 2004 01:07 PM | TrackBack