Family of electrocuted thief gets $75,000

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 2-25-2003 | DAN ROZEK

[JavaTheHutt]

I remember seeing a lethal anti-carjacking system on TV a couple of years ago: The driver pressed a button and ignited flamethrowers that were positioned underneath the body of the car on the driver's side. Wonder if that's still around?

I saw that too. They are big sellers in South Africa. I've been waiting for one to show up on Ebay.

[merak]

Best would be a device which trapped the burglar. If the owner found a cop or fireman in the trap in the morning, he could simply release him. Burglars found in the trap could be disposed of as the owner saw fit.

[JavaTheHutt]

So you claim the right to shoot and kill a kid stealing your hubcap off your car. A little lack of proportion there, dude.

I absolutely claim that right. That's not to say that I would necessarily exercise the right everytime some punk tried to steal a hubcap from my car, but I definitely reserve my right to do so.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Before the $75,000 goes to the criminal's family, shouldn't the state first be allowed to deduct the cost of the trials, arrests, investigation, and jail time of the criminal's offenses?

[supercat]

While we're at it, their lawyer should have been reprimanded for introducing BS hypotheticals that did not in fact occur.

Such a hypothetical would be reasonable in a criminal case against the person who set the trap, as it goes to the core of why setting such traps is illegal. On the other hand, the decedent wasn't a firefighter or other legal first responder. He was a crook.

I would have no trouble with criminal charges against the man who set the trap, were he still alive, but I see no reason the decedent's family should get one penny from his crime.

[Landru]

"Small world indeed. My wife lived @ 64th & Garfield. Was a Holy Angels girl..."

Hang on to your knickers; but...so's mine.
I kid you not & I'll tell you something else, if she graduated around '72 +/- a year??
There's a very good chance these two would've known one another; and, if she were an Angelaire??
We could safely remove all doubt.

Bet your bride would've certainly known who my wife's father was, even if she didn't know her.
Providing she followed the local Milwaukee area highschool football scene for the WIAA ie Marquette University High School?
Many a Divine Savor Holy Angels gal dated the Marquette HS guys back in those days, y'know.
In any event...

"How I,(at the time) a born/raised/bred/drop-dead/1st Mayor Daley/blue-dog/straight ticket/democrat voting Chicagoan, met up with her 29 years ago, I'll never know."

HA!!!
The *original* Mayor Daley, no less.
Ahhh yes the good ol' days. When the trains ran on time. :o)

I can really relate, stylin'.
I've often wondered myself (many times) how my gal managed to pick up such a mutt as I.
Only real difference between your story & mine would appear to be which Mayor ruled over us & even then, their political party would've been the same.

Politically speaking I've changed quite a bit since then.
You too, I presume?

Well if you haven't, it's been nice knowin' ya.

...just watch the skies for *zot*, my friend. {g}

[thepitts]

Jurors weren't allowed to be told that Harris was drunk and on cocaine, nor that he had served time in prison for two burglary convictions.

Justice?

[MrNeutron1962]

"Are you saying that someone 'pulls the meter'? "

Pulls the meter? Good idea, if you are sure you have the proper one, and it doesn't explode in your face when you pull it. We have a really nice training film that shows a meter installer getting set on fire while pulling a meter under load.

[RightOnline]

Bulls**t. The inmates are truly running the asylum.

[grumple]

(snip)Winters contends there was little evidence linking Harris to the earlier break-ins and said it wasn't clear why Harris was entering the bar through the window around 2 a.m. (/snip)

he needed a place to sleep? or was just trying to electrocute himself and knew that this was the place for both...

it wasn't clear?

[You Dirty Rats]

The victim's family is not collecting a penny from his crime. They are collecting for their loss of a family member as a result of a wrongful death.

[You Dirty Rats]

Good luck having your claim recognized in any court in this country.

[JimRed]

Would immobilizing sticky foam violate the poor perp's civil rights?

[JavaTheHutt]

Good luck having your claim recognized in any court in this country

Oh that's right, you live in Ohio. That's why you don't understand. Where I live, I very seriously doubt the DA would even consider bringing charges against me, and if he did, they wouldn't be able to get a jury to convict.

[supercat]

They are collecting for their loss of a family member as a result of a wrongful death.

Burglars deserve whatever fate happens to befall them. The man who set the trap deserved to be charged with endangering innocent people, but the burglar in this case was hardly innocent.

[tom h]

"I'm not sure fellows who advocate execution for stealing property are all that reasonable."

Actually, I made my comments more to be provocative than because I believed in my heart they are necessary.

As to being unreasonable, wellll ... my wife makes that complaint about me every day. ;-)

[tom h]

"sorry, indiscriminate time bombs designed with the pure intent and purpose to kill or maim when triggered are illegal"

And I agree with you 100%. Thanks for enlightening me on the difference.