In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Charges stand in intruder death (Followup)
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Charges stand in intruder deathHomeowner shot fleeing manBy Bob BerwynSpecial to The Denver Post Wednesday, January 30, 2002 - FAIRPLAY - A judge ruled Tuesday that a Park County man can be tried on charges of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a would-be burglar fleeing from his rural home. District Judge Kenneth Plotz, appearing before a packed courtroom, brushed aside claims of damaging pretrial publicity before ruling that charges would stand against LaQuine Thomas. Thomas, 43, is accused of shooting 19-year-old Samuel Reece on Aug. 24. As Thomas and his wife returned to their home late that night, they noticed a van parked near the entrance to their 35-acre lot. Feeling uneasy, Thomas loaded his revolver before going to bed. After hearing noises outside, the Thomases each took a weapon in hand and went outside. Reece and another teenager had broken into a car parked on the property to steal a car stereo but began to run away when the couple came toward them. LaQuine Thomas said he fired two warning shots into the air. He fired a third time in Reece's direction, and Reece then ducked behind a tree. When Reece reappeared, Thomas fired the fourth and fatal bullet. Reece was struck in the back of the neck. Sorting out what happened that night - and what was said in the aftermath - may be difficult in this case. Under questioning by defense attorney William Buckley, two sheriff's department investigators said they did not immediately take written statements from the Thomases regarding the shooting. The deputies also said they did not have tape recorders to record initial statements. As a result, there is some confusion as to what Thomas said regarding the moments preceding the fatal shot. In a report compiled by investigator Sven Bonnelycke based on questioning that night, there is no mention of Reece's possibly hefting a weapon. But in subsequent accounts, Thomas indicated that Reece may have bent over to pick up something that looked like a weapon. Those facts could be important if the defense tries to show that Thomas acted in self-defense, out of fear for his life. "I think it needs to be publicly said that it's a tragedy that this case wasn't better investigated," said defense attorney Leonard Chesler. "It strips LaQuine Thomas of the fair chance to present important evidence." Deputy District Attorney David Thorson asked the judge to impose a gag order to prevent more pretrial publicity. The case has triggered discussion on several talk radio programs, and Thorson alleged that statements made on the programs were "designed to be prejudicial to the people's case." Judge Plotz acknowledged that the case had raised public policy issues, with callers debating how far a homeowner can go to protect his property. But he rejected prosecutors' request for a gag order. In closing statements that left some leeway for a possible plea bargain, defense attorney Buckley said the shooting barely rises to the level of criminally negligent homicide, while Thorson alleged that Thomas intentionally aimed his last shot at Reece. http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,53%7E368192,00.html
Comments
I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!