Someone, anyone, name a court case...

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steelhead seeker

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Ok I don't wana derail the other thread anymore so I'll start one here and ask. The thread is about a knife with assassin in the name. Another member once again brings up the name of the knife and says "good luck in court if you ever have to defend yourself with that knife" (might not be an exact quote but thats the gist of it). Ive heard this sooooo many times over the years here, how the name of a knife will screw you over in court. Now I'm not defending the name. I personally hate it. I don't like any knives with assassin or tactical or killer in the name. It just seems so mall ninja'y but thats besides the point. I can see with guns how you wouldn't want parts on it covered in skulls or backplates on pistols that say "your F****d". Those obviously look bad and visuals are a powerful thing. But i wana know a case where someone got screwed out of a completely justified self defense scenario because of the name of their knife. Ive seen this concern thrown around here quite a bit over the years but I wana know if its actually ever, ever been an issue...this other member argues and thinks I'm kidding because he says "in court they will throw everything they can at you"... sure maybe.. maybe if it wasn't a completely justified scenario of self defense. Thats going to be the deciding factor. Where you in a situation that warranted you using a knife for self defense. And for the record I think using a knife is the stupidest thing you could do, running away is better. But that's another argument also. But I wana know, can anyone out there find a case where someone did use a knife for self defense, it was a justifiable situation to use one, and yet they got the book thrown at then because of the name of their knife. As far as I'm concerned it's a stupid paranoid thing to be worried about.
 
Is this a serious question? You won't get you a lesser sentence killing someone with a My Little Pony sticker on the blade. Courts are all about intent and actions performed and a weapon is a weapon. Whether I attack you with a machete or butter knife courts view it the same way. They may charge you with more crimes if the weapon is restricted or prohibited where you live but that's a different thread.
 
I have been in Federal law enforcement for 30 years.

The district attourney and team will use anything and everything available to them to prosecute a case.

While a knife's name should not be a factor in determining guilt, rest assured - the prosecution will try to paint a picture of a vicious individual and certainly point out the knife's name if it is known to them.

The knife's name alone will not lead to a guilty verdict in an otherwise justified self-defence scenario, but it is definitely another piece of "evidence" against the accused that the prosecution may wish to play up - especially if it is a jury trial.

A rightful self-defence scenario will not be overturned based solely on the name of the weapon in question, nor will a guilty verdict be imposed in an otherwise justified self-defence action based on the name alone - but don't think for a second that it will not factor into any proceedings. It will if the prosecution is able to confirm the knife's name.

Note that an acquittal in a criminal proceeding does not mean you may not be sued and tried in a civil trial, after a not-guilty verdict. And civil courts are full of sheeple and their anti-gun/anti-knife sentiments. They may gasp and scowl even more if the weapon has a "questionable" name.
 
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Unless the model name is scribed on the knife, I wouldn't actually expect them to even know what it's called. They can't even get gun facts and details right. Don't expect it for a knife, let alone an obscure custom.
 
My friend and colleague shane45-1911 shane45-1911 has it right. Whether it's the prosecution, or the defense, whichever side is served via character assassination, rest assured it will be employed. Winning the hearts and minds of the jury and / or the presiding judge is all part of the theater of the courtroom.

20+ years presenting cases as a federal LEO through the U.S. Attorney's Office in NYC and South FL, as well as testifying in state courts.

You don't want any of that stupid crap on your firearms either. Word to the wise.
 
I thought this was just common knowledge....
 
Here’s a case for you. The shooting of Daniel Shaver, where the officer who shot him had a dust cover on the rifle used that read “You’re Fu***d”. That specific part on his rifle was used against him in court, to try and paint him as someone who was just trigger happy.

yourefd_1459294715042_35083524_ver1.0_640_480.jpg


Now I know we’re not talking about knives here, but the idea is the same. In the case of the Les George knife where this question came about, the name alone of the knife might not matter since it’s not written anywhere on the knife. But, a knife with something like “assassin” written on the knife somewhere would probably be looked at differently. It really depends if the attorney actually takes the time to search for the name of the knife and uses that to build his/her case.
 
shane45-1911 said:
I have been in Federal law enforcement for 30 years.

The district attourney and team will use anything and everything available to them to prosecute a case.

While a knife's name should not be a factor in determining guilt, rest assured - the prosecution will try to paint a picture of a vicious individual and certainly point out the knife's name if it is known to them.

The knife's name alone will not lead to a guilty verdict in an otherwise justified self-defence scenario, but it is definitely another piece of "evidence" against the accused that the prosecution may wish to play up - especially if it is a jury trial.

A rightful self-defence scenario will not be overturned based solely on the name of the weapon in question, nor will a guilty verdict be imposed in an otherwise justified self-defence action based on the name alone - but don't think for a second that it will not factor into any proceedings. It will if the prosecution is able to confirm the knife's name.

Note that an acquittal in a criminal proceeding does not mean you may not be sued and tried in a civil trial, after a not-guilty verdict. And civil courts are full of sheeple and their anti-gun/anti-knife sentiments. They may gasp and scowl even more if the weapon has a "questionable" name.
Click to expand...

And with that...thread closed due to lack of need for a better answer.
 
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