This is an interesting news story. Seems one of two home invaders was killed, apparently in self defense by someone wielding a knife (the second attacker "fled the house with stab wounds.").
What is also interesting with this story is that is shows how, in Canada, courts are reluctant to "let off" anyone involved in a knife battle, self-defense or not.
Matt
January 4, 2008
Alberta home invader killed
Target of botched break-in may face homicide charge
By KIRSTEN MUNDY AND NADIA MOHARIB, SUN MEDIA
LANGDON -- A home invasion took a deadly twist yesterday, leaving one of two bandits dead and a suspect in critical condition from serious stab wounds.
And murder charges could be pending against the 35-year-old man renting the acreage home, who, along with his girlfriend, was jarred awake at 3:30 a.m. when the two men burst into the bedroom after forcibly entering the residence through a side door.
Mounties said the man fought off the two assailants, leaving one of them, a 32-year-old man, dead in the bedroom -- an unusual turn of events for police at the scene.
"It doesn't happen very often where an attacker ends up dead," RCMP Cpl. Patty Neely said.
The other would-be robber, a 27-year-old man, fled the house with stab wounds shortly after the invasion went awry.
A suspect was later found by cops at the Strathmore hospital and was taken to a Calgary hospital with critical injuries.
Although they couldn't say whether the bandits were armed when they arrived at the home -- or what types of weapons were used in the ensuing struggle with the man living there -- Mounties said the residence was not randomly hit.
"We do know that the assailants and the victims were known to each other," said Neely.
"This was a specific incident with a specific target in mind."
But, Neely said the reasons behind the botched invasion are still unclear.
"At this point we have no connection to gangs or drugs," she said.
"We have no ties to any criminal activity as of yet."
Police haven't released the cause of the 32-year-old's death and an autopsy is scheduled for today.
While the resident's 24-year-old girlfriend was not hurt, the man suffered injuries while warding off his attackers and was in stable condition. He could also face homicide charges pending the outcome of an RCMP investigation.
Sgt. Patrick Webb said self-defence has not been ruled out.
"We're investigating into the circumstances of the whole situation and that will determine whether or not there is a possibility of charges," he said.
Canada's Criminal Code authorizes people to use the amount of force necessary to protect themselves and their property.
However, the law stresses such force should not be used to cause death or grievous bodily harm.
Meanwhile, residents in the otherwise quiet hamlet 20 km east of Calgary were left rattled by the events.
Lisa Mayer, a mother of three who moved to a nearby acreage just days earlier, said she was shocked by the attack.
"It just kind of scares me," she said. "We used to live in Forest Lawn and hear sirens and HAWCS and stuff, so it was real nice out here for the last few nights."
What is also interesting with this story is that is shows how, in Canada, courts are reluctant to "let off" anyone involved in a knife battle, self-defense or not.
Matt
January 4, 2008
Alberta home invader killed
Target of botched break-in may face homicide charge
By KIRSTEN MUNDY AND NADIA MOHARIB, SUN MEDIA
LANGDON -- A home invasion took a deadly twist yesterday, leaving one of two bandits dead and a suspect in critical condition from serious stab wounds.
And murder charges could be pending against the 35-year-old man renting the acreage home, who, along with his girlfriend, was jarred awake at 3:30 a.m. when the two men burst into the bedroom after forcibly entering the residence through a side door.
Mounties said the man fought off the two assailants, leaving one of them, a 32-year-old man, dead in the bedroom -- an unusual turn of events for police at the scene.
"It doesn't happen very often where an attacker ends up dead," RCMP Cpl. Patty Neely said.
The other would-be robber, a 27-year-old man, fled the house with stab wounds shortly after the invasion went awry.
A suspect was later found by cops at the Strathmore hospital and was taken to a Calgary hospital with critical injuries.
Although they couldn't say whether the bandits were armed when they arrived at the home -- or what types of weapons were used in the ensuing struggle with the man living there -- Mounties said the residence was not randomly hit.
"We do know that the assailants and the victims were known to each other," said Neely.
"This was a specific incident with a specific target in mind."
But, Neely said the reasons behind the botched invasion are still unclear.
"At this point we have no connection to gangs or drugs," she said.
"We have no ties to any criminal activity as of yet."
Police haven't released the cause of the 32-year-old's death and an autopsy is scheduled for today.
While the resident's 24-year-old girlfriend was not hurt, the man suffered injuries while warding off his attackers and was in stable condition. He could also face homicide charges pending the outcome of an RCMP investigation.
Sgt. Patrick Webb said self-defence has not been ruled out.
"We're investigating into the circumstances of the whole situation and that will determine whether or not there is a possibility of charges," he said.
Canada's Criminal Code authorizes people to use the amount of force necessary to protect themselves and their property.
However, the law stresses such force should not be used to cause death or grievous bodily harm.
Meanwhile, residents in the otherwise quiet hamlet 20 km east of Calgary were left rattled by the events.
Lisa Mayer, a mother of three who moved to a nearby acreage just days earlier, said she was shocked by the attack.
"It just kind of scares me," she said. "We used to live in Forest Lawn and hear sirens and HAWCS and stuff, so it was real nice out here for the last few nights."
