CHARGED WITH MURDER, SON WHO STABBED HOUSE RAIDER

A SON hailed a hero for tackling two teenage burglars, stabbing one of them to death, was charged with murder yesterday. Omari Roberts, 23, was widely praised after tackling Tyler Juett, 17, and a 14-year-old accomplice when he caught them breaking into his mother’s home. He chased the 14-year-old off, [emphasis mine] then returned to the house to find Juett still there. They scuffled and Juett suffered a six-inch stab wound that severed vital arteries. Juett was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.

Before the hearing prosecutions lawyer Ian Cunningham said guidelines made clear anyone using “reasonable force” to defend themselves would “enjoy the full protection of the law”. He added: “However, the law also makes clear that people could be prosecuted if they act with excessive and gratuitous force.”

“He chased the 14-year-old off…” So if Roberts obviously had no intent of physically harming the first robber, why would the prosecution automatically assume that he came back to murder the other one—who was obviously either too stupid or too arrogant to escape while his friend was being chased away? Something must have seriously escalated to the point between Roberts and the remaining robber if Roberts felt he had to grab a knife to protect himself. This is just my musing; I could be entirely wrong.

[Thanks to Travis Holte]