Posted on 11/11/2010 5:09:13 AM PST by marktwain
JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - A Jackson convenience store worker has been found not guilty in the 2008 shooting death of a shoplifter. A Hinds county jury found Sarbrinder Pannu not guilty in the murder of 36 year old James Hawthorne.
Pannu shot Hawthorne after he stole a case of beer from the J and S Food Mart on Medgar Evers Boulevard. Prosecuting attorneys argued that Hawthorne was unarmed when he was gunned down.
In closing arguments defense attorney Tom Fortner said Pannu feared for his life when he saw Hawthorne reaching for what he thought was a gun.
Members of the Hawthorne family left the courtroom in disgust. James Hawthorne's mother tells WLBT, the jury has allowed store owners to take the law into their own hands.
Gwendolyn Hawthorne said, "Everyone can go get a gun, it will be like the Wild West!"
Defense attorney Tom Fortner told reporters leaving the courtroom, "I think this verdict sends the message that people are tired of the crime, they are saying stop the robbing, stop the stealing."
Pannu left the courthouse, avoiding reporters. He has been out on bond since the shooting, and plans to return to work.
The money quote.
Wow! I thought the “He was reaching for something.” argument was reserved only for cops. This is a good day.
It’s getting where being a thief isn’t a safe way to make a living anymore.
Mississippi is NOT a place where you want to break the law. Period.
Waste of tax payers money prosecuting this...the man clearly was within his rights to shoot a low life thief. We need more good citizens like him!!!
Amish again.
He thought his life was equal to the value of a case of beer. So, at the most, his family could, theoretically, win a judgement of ...oh....say...um....$12.99 up to $18.99.
This mouth-breather needs to do some research. The "wild" west was a relatively demure locale with which to live. There were far more killings in the un-wild east. Even the most infamous shoot-out, the OK Corral, resulted in the deaths of 3 people.
Unarmed black perp steals beer & returns to car. Perp is chased, shot & killed by Indian store clerk. Indian acquitted by jury of eleven blacks and one white. No Indians on jury. Verdict praised by black president of city council. Am I dreaming?
Mississippi ping
Members of the Hawthorne family left the courtroom in disgust. James Hawthorne’s mother tells WLBT, the jury has allowed store owners to take the law into their own hands.
Gwendolyn Hawthorne said, “Everyone can go get a gun, it will be like the Wild West!”
The family reported that they would be out robbing convenience stores for the rest of the day. /sarcasm
Yes, precisely. Store clerk had no reason to believe the person stealing from him would not hurt him—or worse—once he got what he wanted. I love it when judges tell people— who wounded or killed perps—they had no right to do that because they did not know what was in the perp’s mind.
Precisely, again. And I’m not gonna wait to find out either.
Of course, the other absurdity is that you can’t use lethal force to protect your property. I worked for that property. Attacking it is the same as attacking me. You bet I’ll protect it by every means at my disposal.
Mickey’s is selling for 18.99 a case? Wow!
Well, they did point out that the store clerk was Indian, so that's a good start! ;)
Treat Them to a Good Dose of Lead (Why the 'Wild West' was not what Liberals claim-my title)
Technically, stealing beer is taking the law into one’s own hands....
Good!
This depends on the State..here in Texas the perps know better!!
Funny you should use that word. The situation matches a great American's dream . . . from his "I Have a Dream" speech.
The real irony of the ‘Gunfight at the OK Corral” was, it was an arrest that went bad. An arrest for a firearms violation.
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