Posted on 12/29/2010 12:55:58 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
A University Park man who killed a neighbor whose dog urinated on his lawn was sentenced today to four years probation.
"This is not justice," said Gail Williams, the slain man's aunt.
Charles Clements, 69, a great-grandfather, former Marine and retired truck driver who took great pride in his lawn's appearance, could have been sentenced to as much as 20 years.
In declining to send Clements to jail, Will County Judge Daniel Rozak noted the episode was Clements' first contact with the legal system in his 69 years.
He also said the slaying wasn't about a dog urinating on a lawn, but "about your reaction ... to being yelled at, pushed and punched in the face by a 23-year-old man" The Will County state's attorney's office, which had asked for jail time, indicated it would not appeal the sentence. "He (Rozak) is an excellent judge and we respect his decision," prosecutors said in a statement.
Clements had apologized for his actions at a sentencing hearing that was interrupted last week when the slain man's mother began to hyperventilate in court.
A Will County jury convicted Clements of second-degree murder in October.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagobreakingnews.com ...
eh??
4 years probation for murder??
Whats wrong with life or even a death penalty?
By Clements’ own account, it doesn’t seem that he was in any danger.
Shoulda got some time.
Chicago doesn't allow self defense?
/johnny
Probation for shooting for murdering someone?! The mother is right; this isn’t justice.
I disagree,, the punk should have been shot for that. All I need is for me to be in fear of my life,, bang, your dead!
After Funches cursed at him, Clements pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and put it back in his pocket. Soon after, Funches punched Clements once in the face. Clements said Funches was standing still when he pulled out his gun and fatally shot him.
Simple request, is met with curses. Bad move by the dead guy.
Curses are met with a quiet display of defensive capability. Maybe not smart, but perhaps a sensible precaution by the live guy.
Quiet display of defensive capability met by unprovoked violence by the dead guy.
Unprovoked violence met with defensive action by the live guy.
I dunno for sure, but this might be the fault of the dead guy.
when you are 23 years old and you punch a 69 year old in the face, you take whatever comes next. He should have just moved along with his mutt and called the police if he felt threatened by an old man
Did you even read the post??? It was self defense!!!!!!! Punk got what he asked for!!
Today, I'm missing a spleen and kidney that I used to have.
Fall 5 feet and die? Har! Except that it happens and it's a really ugly way to go.
If someone is trying to blunt me to death, I'm going to poke high-speed holes in them to make them stop.
/johnny
A quick Google search for the deceased’s photos may give more insight into the situation.
Should be interesting to read background information on the upstanding young victim who is such a loss to society.
Did Funches, the dog-walker, have a criminal history known to Clements?
>>If I’m 70 (hell, later next year, well before I’m 70) and some 23 year old is shoving and punching on me. I may die. People die from being punched.
Chicago doesn’t allow self defense?<<
That’s my take as well. When I read the headline, I was appalled. Then I read the story. It sounds a bit like the movie “The Burning Bed”, or the “whole town” that kills the local bully.
Their may have been the necessity to take out a continually harassing bully. I would have a stronger opinion if I had actually seen the whole trial, though.
"activist Will County Judge Daniel Rozak sentenced a spectator to 6 months in jail for yawning. what a great use of taxpayer $$$ considering it'll cost the taxpayer oh about $15,000 if he serves the full six months."
>>I dunno for sure, but this might be the fault of the dead guy. <<
i.e. An armed society is a polite society.
Who asked for the jury trial — the prosecution, or the defendant? Perhaps the defendant would have been cleared in a bench trial.
Yes, I read the post, and at no time was the man in mortal danger. He was the initial aggressor, he escalated it by carring and pulling a concealed handgun, and he used deadly force when not required. By his own admission he was never in mortal danger. By every definition this man overreacted; he shot and killed someone without legal justification, and at very least it’s manslaughter. I think it’s clearly murder. They should throw is crazy old lawn-obsessed ass in jail.
That's enough.
/johnny
It’s what I’m thinking.
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