He reacted to his wifes' reaction to this kid without stopping to learn the facts.
But who stops to think when you're wife is screaming about a stranger at the door?
He overreacted because his wife overreacted.
However, we'll never know this kids' true motive for knocking at this door asking for directions to the school he attends everyday.
check his rap sheet. Then we’ll know his intent.
However, we'll never know this kids' true motive for knocking at this door asking for directions to the school he attends everyday.
Additionally, let's not forget that the standard to be imposed in the accused in such a situation is supposed to be "would a reasonable person act in the same way, given their state of mind at that moment?". A jury might well find that the homeowner failed that test—notwithstanding the wife's clear overreaction to the situation.
Presuming that the accused was apparently found guilty by a jury of his peers, I don't have an issue with the convictions—assuming that said jury was fully informed. But having said that, I think that this sort of incident is better seen as a "no harm, no foul" situation, where "everyone has learned important lessons". Thus, putting this homeowner behind bars with some real criminals—especially for any significant length of time—is not what I'd consider "justice".
"Let the punishment fit the crime"; in this instance I am of the opinion that the penalty imposed was too severe...