Neighbors Defend Texan Accused of Murdering Teen Over Snacks

[308Mike]

Linkarooni

Neighbors Defend Texan Accused of Murdering Teen Over Snacks

Thursday, September 25, 2008

LAREDO, Texas — The trial of a man accused of executing a teen who broke into his home with friends looking for snacks has many in this border city outraged. Not because of the crime, but because the man is facing a murder charge.

In a state where the right to use deadly force to protect one's life and property is sacrosanct and frontier justice is still sometimes the norm — particularly on the violence-plagued Texas-Mexico border — prosecutors have to explain the decision to try Jose Luis Gonzalez.

More..............

[mekender]

im torn on this one... best to wait and see how the jury rules... i dont trust the news paper

[FastRope71]

On the surface it sounds like an execution, not a self defense situation.

Depending on the coroner/Med. Ex.'s testimony regarding angles of entry, etc. It could go either way.

While it is possible that he was acting out of vengeance, vs. self defense, it is possible that the surviving burglars have managed to get their story straight, and the shot was fired while defending himself. My hope is that justice is served, either way.

[Erik]

A bit more info from Laredo Morning Times
The article itself seems fairly unbiased, and presents both sides arguments pretty well.
Going through the comments, most of those seems to be on the side of the old man.

[Netpackrat]

I thought Texas had castle doctrine?

[mekender]

I thought Texas had castle doctrine?

yeah but even with the castle doctrine, if someone has surrendered and you are holding them at gunpoint, it isnt legal to execute them... and that is what they are accusing him of doing.

[Erik]

I thought Texas had castle doctrine?

The prosecutor says this was way beyond. They claim that they would not prosecute if he had shot them while they were doing the crime, but he got them on their knees and then allegedly shot one of them from behind at point blank range. They claim that was not self defense, but execution after the fact.

[Aglifter]

Or, he shot him because the individual on his knees was making a try to get him -- I really don't care even if he did execute them -- engage in home invasion at your own peril. (Looking for snacks my ass...)

[Netpackrat]

I suppose the moral of this story, is that dead men tell no tales.

[Jered]

I really don't have any sympathy for the punk.

If you don't want to take a chance on getting whacked, maybe it's a bad idea to break into someone's house.

I think the lesson is probably lost on the friends, though.