The burglar fell from this third floor window
Posted on 08/08/2007 12:51:27 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Last updated at 17:58pm on 8th August 2007 A homeowner has been arrested and quizzed by police after an intruder he confronted during a burglary fell out of a third floor window.
The burglar, 43, was left fighting for his life after he tumbled up to 40 feet when he was disturbed rifling through through the flat.
He is thought to have got up and tried to run off but collapsed on the pavement. Police, who received a 999 call, found him unconscious on the ground outside the smart Victorian appartment block in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.
The burglar fell from this third floor window
He was rushed to hospital with life threatening injuires.
Officers arrested the 56-year old occupant of the flat on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent over the possibility that the intruder was pushed out of the window.
He was later released on bail until November pending further inquiries. If charged and convicted the arrested man could face life imprisonment.
The arrest is expected to fuel arguments about the right of householders to defend themselves against burglars - which has been high on the law and order agenda since farmer Tony Martin was jailed for shooting dead a burglar in 1999.
Greater Manchester Police said the occupant of the apartment was asleep when he woke up at 6,10am on Tuesday to find the intruder in his flat. The pair got embroiled in an argument which spilled over towards the window of the flat.
A neighbour, aged 56, from a nearby property who asked not to be named, said: "I was up at around that time, and I did hear a noise like a window being broken.
"I had no idea what it was, but the police arrived in what seemed to be minutes. The house was taped off and the police were there for the whole day.
"The crime scene investigators were there, which seemed very unsual for an area like this.
"It's very quiet around here. The house where it happened is split into flats and I'm not sure who is living there now but they all seem to be very respectable.
"It's shocking to find out what has happened but then again, people shouldn't break into other people's houses."
Another local said: "If the guy who fell out of the window was breaking into the property then why was the homeowner arrested?"
"I presume we will have to respect the burglar's rights whilst his victim has the nightmare of court hanging over his head. It all seems so unfair."
Following the Tony Martin affair the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers said any householder can use reasonable force to protect themselves or others, or can carry out an arrest to prevent crime.
In a joint statement they said: "You are not expected to make fine judgements over the level of force you use in the heat of the moment.
"So long as you only do what you honestly and instinctively believe is necessary in the heat of the moment, that would be the strongest evidence of you acting lawfully and in self defence. This is still the case if you use something to hand as a weapon.
"As a general rule, the more extreme the circumstances and the fear felt, the more force you can lawfully use in self-defence."
If the householder chases the intruders as they run off, and the burglar gets injured, the occupant could face charges.
The CPS and ACPO statememt added: "This situation is different as you are no longer acting in self-defence and so the same degree of force may not be reasonable.
"However, you are still allowed to use reasonable force to recover your property and make a citizen's arrest.
"You should consider your own safety and, for example, whether the police have been called. A rugby tackle or a single blow would probably be reasonable.
"Acting out of malice and revenge with the intent of inflicting punishment through injury or death would not."
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact West Didsbury CID on 0161 856 6152 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
I see a lot of Brit tourist here in Bratislava.
Many are sloven bums that come here only to get drunk.
Other then that, PC is destroying the UK, just as it is the US.
Referring to him as a “homeowner” implicates him as a filthy capitalist who deserves to be in prison. Why should he have when others do not?
Crocodile falls 12 floors in escape bid (Khenar, this is his 3rd attempt to escape)
It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the Britons to revolt against this utter idiocy ... if they ever find the intestinal fortitude ... we here in the US should watch with great interest how it plays out cause the way it’s going ... we are just a few steps behind them
"I presume we will have to respect the burglar's rights whilst his victim has the nightmare of court hanging over his head. It all seems so unfair."
Very illustrative of the situation in Great Britain these days.....
Intruder
Ejected in graceful arc
to ground
Intrudee
hosed
Is this a haiku?
There will come a time when the good people of Britain will have had enough of this PC nonsense and the result will be ugly. Why can't their leadership see the freight train coming?
Officers arrested the 56-year old occupant of the flat on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent over the possibility that the intruder was pushed out of the window.
He was later released on bail until November pending further inquiries. If charged and convicted the arrested man could face life imprisonment.
And I thought WE had it all wrong! Long ago, I thought it might be fun to visit the UK. Now, I can hardly stand to hear about it. The insanity over there is gatting harder and harder to believe.
So many file drawers.
What treasures lie there within?
Oof! The grass is firm!
LOL, you sicko. Google "Khum Dhan" and watch the video. Funniest I've seen in a long time!
The purpose of the Second Amendment is is not only to protect one from burglars like this but also from the government that would arrest you for defending yourself.
But England never had a constitutional right to bear arms.
Awsome!
Hehe! Thanks! I’ve been working on one myself!
watch that first step
It's a bitch
You’d think that the Brits would have gotten a clue from how many copies of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” were sold. Britain is firmly in the hands of Professor Umbridge and her minions, it would appear.
Disgraceful!
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