Detroit Porch Shooter Will Face Trial

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

The man who shot and killed an unarmed Detroit teen on his front porch last month will face a trial, a judge has ruled.
Theodore Wafer, 54, is facing charges of second degree murder, manslaughter, and a felony firearms charge in the Nov. 2 death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rules-detroit-porch-shooting-suspect-will-face-trial/

I think most of us will agree this is a good thing

 

[Tanin]

Very Good.

 

[KevanG]

I'm sure not all of us will.

 

[charl_huntress]

He should go to trial.

Curiously though, I wonder what caused the felony gun charge? In my mind that means he owned the shotgun illegally or it wasn't registered.

They are charging him with both manslaughter and murder though...interesting.

edit: I had to figure out why this gun charge was added and a friend of mine believes it could be because the firearm was discharged in an unlawful manner. Or it could be because he owned the weapon illegally. We'll see though.

 

[Hotwire]

Good!!!

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

This is the only good news that I have heard this week.

 

[Teelie]

The trial is a good start. It's the verdict that is going to be problematic.

Guilty: Most sensible people will cheer this on as justice. Gun rights advocates and just plain nuts will go around condemning it as taking away their rights, some will likely threaten to shoot people for knocking on their front door.

Not Guilty: Most sensible people will be angry, there will probably be if not a riot, then the next thing to it and a whole lot of protesting over it. Gun rights advocates and gun nuts will cheer it on and still probably threaten to shoot anyone who knocks on their door.

Needless to say I sprinkled some hyperbole in there, although probably not as much as some may think.

 

[mrvlknight21]

He should go to trial.

Curiously though, I wonder what caused the felony gun charge? In my mind that means he owned the shotgun illegally or it wasn't registered.

They are charging him with both manslaughter and murder though...interesting.

edit: I had to figure out why this gun charge was added and a friend of mine believes it could be because the firearm was discharged in an unlawful manner. Or it could be because he owned the weapon illegally. We'll see though.

Simply using a firearm during a crime is an extra offense. So, the fact that he used a firearm during the commission of the murder (as opposed to a knife, bare hands, etc) is an extra charge in many states.

 

[Warhammer]

This is good news.

 

[charl_huntress]

Simply using a firearm during a crime is an extra offense. So, the fact that he used a firearm during the commission of the murder (as opposed to a knife, bare hands, etc) is an extra charge in many states.

Ahhh...thank you for clearing that up. That does make a lot of sense now.

 

[Teelie]

Guilty.

A Michigan man accused of gunning down an unarmed young woman on his front porch in November was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder, manslaughter and possessing a firearm while committing a felony.

Theodore Wafer, 55, faces a possible life prison term when sentenced on August 21. The jury deliberated for a little less than nine hours.

 

[Motown Marvel]

Guilty. Awesome. Dude is getting what he deserved.

 

[Tanin]

9 hours? That didn't take very long.

 

[Hotwire]

Good news! Maybe this will send a message to all of those trigger-happy gun-nuts who want to shoot first and to Hell with the questions.

 

[the last son]

Good.

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

Good, perhaps this might begin to make other trigger happy twits think before they shoot?

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Thanks for the update Teelie. Glad to see this idiot got locked up

 

[Feenix]

I just read the original thread for this story.

Crazy posters are crazy.

 

[Warhammer]

It's crazy how some people can even attempt to defend the shooter. I can't wrap my head around it.

 

[chamber-music]

Justice is served.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Simply using a firearm during a crime is an extra offense. So, the fact that he used a firearm during the commission of the murder (as opposed to a knife, bare hands, etc) is an extra charge in many states.

Out of curiosity, can you translate that in layman's layman terms ?
I understand the words but not the meaning in regard of the story ( teen had car accident, wandered dizzy in town, knocked at door house, owner of the house "panicked", grabbed his shotgun and killed her ).

 

[mrvlknight21]

Out of curiosity, can you translate that in layman's layman terms ?
I understand the words but not the meaning in regard of the story ( teen had car accident, wandered dizzy in town, knocked at door house, owner of the house "panicked", grabbed his shotgun and killed her ).

He is being charged with murder and manslaughter. If he had committed these offenses with his bare hands, that would be pretty much it (no other charges). But, because he used a firearm to commit this act, he can be charged with the additional offense of possession of or use of a firearm during the commission of a crime (the exact language may vary in Michigan).

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

^^
Thanks, it becomes clearer. Now what I don't understand ( in regards of the US laws ) is this, the guy legally owned a gun ( and the right to defend himself ), he killed the girl, what the difference it makes that he did it with a legally owned gun or his bare hands ? If the law says that you can't own a gun I could understand.

 

[mrvlknight21]

^^
Thanks, it becomes clearer. Now what I don't understand ( in regards of the US laws ) is this, the guy legally owned a gun ( and the right to defend himself ), he killed the girl, what the difference it makes that he did it with a legally owned gun or his bare hands ? If the law says that you can't own a gun I could understand.

Some would say that some laws were made to ensure convictions or more lengthy sentences or another charge that can be used as a tool when it comes time to plea bargain. For example, there are state (speaking for Georgia again) and federal laws that prohibit the use of a cell phone to facilitate a drug crime. In other words, if the police have a drug dealers phone tapped, and a user calls him to set up a purchase, they can both be charged with using a cell phone to commit a drug offense, even if the drug deal never takes place.

Now clearly, cell phones are entirely legal for everyone, criminals, kids, etc. But when that phone is used to set up a drug deal, then it is a felony offense.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

^^
I understand now thank you.

PS : I have a slight curiosity for this whole guns business, 2nd amendment and what it means before the US laws.